A bankers desk lamp is a great choice for a desk, office, home, study or any room where you want to create a traditional, stylish look.
The Traditional Banker's Desk Lamp
The banker’s style desk lamp is a traditional style for a lamp, but one that has been updated and re-envisioned regularly.
The banker’s lamp was originally designed to provide a strong, focused light on accounting and book keeping ledgers, so they feature a bright bulb under a relatively small, downward focused shade.
The traditional look for a banker’s lamp is a rectangular shade to provide a book-shaped pool of light. They were traditionally mounted on a polished brass base with a dark green, glass shade, and a gold pull chain.
Prices
You can still purchase bankers desk lamps in the classic, traditional look. The prices for these vary from about $30 to $250, depending on the manufacturer and the materials used in producing them.
Other versions of the lamps in updated and re-imagined looks cost approximately the same amount, with many of the more elaborate decorative styles in the upper cost range.
Tiffany Styles
One of the popular styles for the new versions of a bankers desk lamp is the Tiffany style lamp. Running between $75 and $100, these versions of the lamp often come with the traditional pull switch and solid metal base. However, there are some significant differences.
The Tiffany versions of the lamp generally have filigreed and decorative metal bases and connectors. They often feature floral or natural themes in both the metal work and the glass shade.
The Tiffany style lamps often employ stained glass to surround the light source.
Specialty Styles
There is a whole market that caters to specialty banker's lamps. Frequently the specialty lamps have the typical glass shade and pull chain. However, the base will be made of fine materials such as solid brass and marble. They could have a specialty logo, plaque or medal on the base.
For example, some have a university logo, the logo of a club or society, or the logo of a favorite team or sport.
The prices for these models are also in the higher range, and the materials used tend to be of higher quality.
Whimsy and Fun
At the other end of the spectrum are the bankers lamps that were re-invented by those who favor a more light hearted design.
Most retain the glass shade, but some replace it with a base or cord switch. Many vary the color of the shade, using a bright blue, red or yellow to brighten or update the look of the the lamp.
Some take the traditional, staid style of the banker’s lamp and add butterflies, grass fronds and a decorative shade that reflects a natural feel.
A contemporary style of banker's lamp uses solid black styling, smooth, and modern lines to create an updated look to the old style.
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