Lighting the way with Lanterns

Lanterns are a wonderful way to add ceiling light to a room. They are crisp and not too dressy like many chandeliers, and thus work with many, if not all, decorating styles.

Canadian House & Home

Both of these photos come from Canadian House & Home. The top photo is a good example of a small entryway with a simple bell jar lantern. In the second photo designer Karla Amadatsu used a bell jar lantern to define a dining space in an open plan living/dining room.

Bell jar is probably the most common style lantern, and while I like the style a lot, I thought I'd look at auctions for something different. 

The next Doyle @Home auction on February 23rd includes this wrought iron 4 light lantern (Lot 251). It's 37" tall, and is a classic hall lantern. It's very smart looking and  has an auction estimate of $800 - $1,200. This would look very chic in a large entryway or library.

This Neoclassical style gilt metal and glass lantern is also included in the Doyle auction (Lot 244). It's 23" tall and has an auction estimate of $200 - $300. It has a delicate style, and would look wonderful in a small entryway or bathroom.

This is a very smart pair of frosted glass and metal octagonal lanterns. These are Lot 556 in the next Christie's Interiors sale in New York March 1st and 2nd.  I think having a pair would be great for a hallway or spread to two rooms! These have an auction estimate $800 - $1,200 and are 37" tall.

I think this pair of French hexagonal lanterns have just enough extra style to make them stand apart from the crowd. These are also in the Christie's sale (Lot 830), and are made of patinated and parcel gilt wrought iron with 3 lights in each. They are 47" tall, so rather big. This would limit them to rooms with pretty tall ceilings. These would dress up an open plan family room or a loft. They have an auction estimate of $3,000 - $5,000.

It's always helpful to see some past actual pricing examples and here are three that are quite different in style and price. This first one was sold at Christie's in new York. It's an hexagonal tole peinte hall lantern, first half of the 20th century. It sold for $3,120 off an auction estimate of $1,500 - $2,000. It's very  chic, and the green makes it a bit different. This would be fabulous in an entryway.

This cute copper lantern started off as a candle lantern, and was electrified later. This sold at a Brunk auction in Asheville, NC for $90. It measure 21" tall, and I could see this in a boys room over a desk, or in a small bathroom.

This fantastic modern example was designed by Andre Dubreuil in 1988. It sold at a Wright 'Important Design' auction in Chicago for $12,500 off an auction estimate of $10,00 - $15,000. The style is sophisticated and delicate. Put this over a dining table or in an entryway for elegant lighting.

Homes & Garden Magazine, UK

A wonderful ceiling fixture adds elegance, and draws your eye in to the space. A lantern is a sophisticated choice, and you can find one at auction that will make your design statement.