Identification

What have you got?

Most antique fixtures can be dated to within a decade or two from four things: the form, the shade fitter, the finish and hardware, and a matching catalog page. Here's how — and if you'd like a hand, send us the details and we'll help.

1. 1

   Read the form

   Decide whether arms point up (gas) or down (electric). A combination fixture has both, and is almost certainly pre-1920. The overall silhouette — ornate and curvy, rectilinear and hammered, or geometric and stepped — places you within a few decades.

2. 2

   Measure the shade fitter

   The fitter is the opening where the shade meets the fixture. 2¼-inch fitters are the most common antique size; 4-inch and larger appear on schoolhouse and pan fixtures. Knowing the fitter tells you what shades will fit and narrows the era.

3. 3

   Note the finish & hardware

   Polished brass, hammered copper, nickel, or chrome each point to a period. Look for gas keys, knurled shade rings, cloth-covered wiring, and any stamped pattern numbers on canopies or pans.

4. 4

   Match it to a catalog

   Compare against the dated catalog pages in our archive. A match — even a near one — both dates the fixture and tells you the manufacturer's name for it, which makes finding shades and parts far easier.

Need the measuring details first? See the How to Measure guide. Want to learn the styles? Start with Styles & Eras.