Hurricane Lamps - A Brief History
article by Jim Hoyle

Neither high winds or hurricanes could snuff out this popular lamp style.

  The hurricane lamp was originally an oil burning lamp with a glass chimney designed to protect the flame from drafts or winds. Today, all that has changed. These oil burning hurricane lamps are still very popular today not only for their aesthetic value but because of their basic practical use especially during periods of power outages or anywhere that has no electricity, such as cabins, camping, etc.

Today the hurricane lamp can be any lamp or even a candle including an electric lamp where the flame or light bulb is protected or enclosed by a glass chimney. The electric version of the hurricane lamp does not need the glass chimney for functionality but lamp manufacturers often include this feature as it is more authentic.

Glass chimneys today come in a wide assortment of sizes, shapes, frostings or clear, etchings and decorations as well as colors.

In addition to the glass chimney, many hurricane lamps have an additional decorative glass top which surrounds the glass chimney. These glass tops come in many sizes, shapes and colors. One very striking and popular type of hurricane lamp has matching bottom and top glass pieces which are intricately hand decorated with a clear glass chimney projecting through the top several inches. The popular "Gone With The Wind Lamp", named after the Academy Award winning movie is a type of hurricane lamp and it utilizes the glass chimney enclosure as well as the additional decorative glass top which is often hand painted.

Authentic antique hurricane lamps are highly sought after and very collectible. They commonly bring prices that range into the many hundreds of dollars and up.

  - Jim Hoyle

Biography: Since 1979 Jim Hoyle has owned and operated Lamp Outlet - North Carolina's Most Exclusive Unique Lamps and Lamp Shades. Jim designs and manufactures fine cast metal table lamps and floor lamps and collects, sells, repairs, restores and appraises antique lamps from special acquisitions and estates worldwide. His company also specializes in lamp and home decor factory buyouts and warehouse closings. All comments and questions are answered personally. His company's website contains a wealth of free information about lamps and lighting: www.hoylelamps.com.

Visit his store personally at 2233 East Main Street, Lincolnton, North Carolina about 25 minutes from Charlotte.

We do everything for lamps and chandeliers - buy, sell, repair, restore, rewire, refinish, lamp appraisals.

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