Craftsman Style Light Fixtures

Stickley Develops the Craftsman Style

Gustav Stickley introduced the Craftsman style in the early 1900s, taking his inspiration from many of the ideals of the English Arts & Crafts movement. He developed the Craftsman style to be simple designs that were fresh, unique, earthy and reminiscent of the common man. The style emphasized three key factors:

• Natural materials – He used locally-found wood, hand-rubbed metals like copper and natural elements like mica.
• Honest construction – The homes, furnishings and lighting fixtures were made with simple, practical designs.
• Hand-constructed – The fine hand of the craftsman was evident in the workmanship which was displayed on all pieces.

Stickley wanted to show how the Craftsman style could be easily translated to home designs, furniture and lighting. He founded, and was editor of, a monthly magazine, The Craftsman. He commissioned artists to depict the furniture and lighting pieces in room settings. It was a very successful way to show the everyday person Stickley's vision of a cozy, comfortable environment. Soon he was receiving orders for furniture and lamps – and people wanted the house plans so that they could replicate the home they saw in the magazine.

Design Features of Craftsman Style Light Fixtures

Craftsman, Arts & Crafts and Mission style light fixtures and lamps have many of the same characteristics. They tend to be geometric in design, use natural colors and materials with hand-hewn features.

Craftsman style lights are a visually-unique style that is:

• More sturdy and rugged than Arts & Crafts style lights
• Less inclined than Mission style to use square bases and banded cubes in their design

An excellent example of the style is the Gustav Stickley's Number 501 desk lamp. The lamp was originally-built of oak, a wood that is readily-available and stains to a distinctive grain. The construction of the lamp required the fine hand of the lamp maker to steam bend the support pieces to meet at the top. The design allowed the light to be swiveled to focus the illumination in a variety of directions, making the lamp extremely functional as a desk lamp.

Modern Day Popularity

Craftsman style light fixtures are experiencing a resurgence in popularity for several reasons:

• There is an increased interest in restoring Craftsman homes. The smaller size of the homes and the home's emphasis on craftsmanship are of particular interest to the Baby Boomers who are looking for a smaller home closer to the urban center. Many of these restoration projects include the replacement of current light fixtures which may, or may not, be Craftsman in styling.
• Many new homes are being built in a modified Craftsman style. Owners are looking for room and accent lighting that reflects the style of their new home.
• The Mission style of furniture has become popular again. Craftsman style lamps are an excellent addition to a Mission-style table, blending the use of straight lines, simple craftsmanship and natural color tones. The simple nature of the lamp's design blends into the room décor and adds much needed light to lighten a dark room or corner.

Tips on Selecting and Using

• Match the design to the function – Craftsman style fixtures are designed to perform a specific function. They are not multi-purpose lamps. For example, don't expect a desk lamp to provide enough light for use as a bedside lamp.
• Shop around for reasonable prices – The style is becoming increasingly available, so the prices are becoming very competitive. Many national home stores now carry beautiful Craftsman style lighting fixtures. If you are looking for a collectible piece from the 1930s or 1940s be sure to check online auctions such as eBay as well as second hand stores. They are becoming increasingly available as household items from that era are distributed to heirs and family members.
• Place the light source close to the need – The fixtures were not designed to hold high power illumination. The lamp needs to be close to the item being illuminated. For example, you need to sit next to the lamp to read. You can't place the lamp across the room and expect it to provide enough light to find the nuts in the pudding at the dinner table.
• Don't over illuminate – It is very tempting to significantly increase the bulb wattage in many of the designs. This can be very dangerous. The lamp may not be able to safely function with a higher wattage bulb, causing a potential fire hazard.

Where to Buy

Craftsman style light fixtures are readily available at large retailers and online sources such as:

• Home Depot
• Lamps Plus
• Craftsman Outdoor Lighting
• Rejuvenation Lighting
• The Craftsman Home