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lacquer - Oriental varnish obtained from the sap of the lacquer tree. Gave a high-gloss finish to furniture in Europe in the 17th century.

Lalique A luminous, transparent glass introduced in the early 20th century by Rene Lalique of France. Most of his designs have a sculptural quality achieved by pressing and alternating a dull with a polished surface.

lamé Silk or synthetic woven fabric shot through with metal threads. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

Lamps Antique lamps have a gorgeous feel to them – from the sought-after art nouveau Tiffany lamps, which now can sell for over 2 million dollars (as opposed to the average light bulb, which costs less than a dollar!), to the mathematically inventive Mogul lamps, which were the first sorts of lights, before dimmer switches, to allow people to obtain 16 different possible levels of light intensity, there are plenty of ways a lamp can make a room in your home stand out. But what is the best way to buy these lamps? Hassling your local antique dealer every weekend? Trudging around to garage sale after garage sale in hope of a bargain? Spending up big talking to dealers across he country on the phone? We can help narrow the search for you. Firstly, there are several popular sorts of antique lamps. Tiffany lamps are well-known across America, and are considered one of the better things to come out of the art nouveau movement of Europe in the late 19th century. Tiffany lamps have many different colored pieces of stained glass soldered together, often on a brass stand. Kerosene lamps run on kerosene (as the name suggests!), or on oil, which burn a wick in a similar action to a candle. The tubular design and the Aladdin design are the most popular. These were invented in the mid 1800s, and are known in Britain as ‘paraffin lamps’, as paraffin was a popular fuel to use in them at the time. Tilley lamps are a type of kerosene lamp which produces a brighter light by pressuring the kerosene to a gas state, which then burns at a hotter temperature than the liquid. Oil lamps are not necessarily just kerosene lamps run on oil – they are much simpler, with the same design being used for around 10,000 years – a ten-thousand year old oil lamp would be a great find for an antique hunter! They are a basic apparatus to hold a wick in oil while it burns, in a similar way to a candle, and a simpler way than a kerosene lamp. As to buying these lamps – auctions are a great place to start looking for your beautiful antiques at bargain prices. Online auctions afford much better range of items, but are probably not the best arena if you are looking to buy genuine antiques. For these sort of pieces you probably want to inspect them yourself before sale, and it would be much better to have the guarantee that, at least, you can return to the place you bought the piece and complain, if it is found to be other than as it was described. In fact, one of the most important things you can do when buying at auction is inspect the pieces before you bid on them – this is usually possible before the auction. To assist in your inspections, some useful items to bring with you to the auction house include a tape measure, a small flashlight, a magnifying glass, a digital camera (if you have the opportunity to view for a day or two before the auction begins) and possibly a reference guide or two. Some other good ideas for buying antique lamps at auction are to handle and look at what you are interested in. Look for dents and chips which may make the lamp worth less than you might have paid if you hadn’t seen them. As everybody will tell you – fix a maximum bid in your mind while you are inspecting the item – don’t get caught up in the competition of an auction. While it is sort of exciting – like winning a race (!) – beware of buyer’s remorse. Auction houses don’t offer 90 day money-back satisfaction guarantees! Always ask plenty of questions, also – especially if you have a day or two to view things before the auction commences. This is where the digital camera comes in handy. If you don’t have a long time to view things before the auction commences, you can look to other people who are examining the same item or auction staff for information. They may not know, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. If you are looking at buying glass lamps, you will often find that a bottom and top half of two different lamps have been put together, when the original mates were lost. This doesn’t make them less old, but you may want to revise your bid if this is the case! Look at the condition of the glass chimney – how worn or scratched it is – and also the base. Check out the base for any dents, fading, scratching or chipped parts. When you are looking for which names are the big ones – the most sought after ones – in antique lamps, keep an ear out for Angle Lamps, Coleman Lamps, Rayo Lamps, and Aladdin Lamps. Both Amazon and Aladdin websites have collector’s manuals and price guides for buying antique lamps. But as always, the best guide of what good value a lamp will be to you, is what you think of it! Check out the classics, and find your own gotta-have. Essay Submitted by Lucy Atkinson www.architecturalclassics.com/blog/

lantern clock A mostly brass weight-driven wall clock shaped like a latern. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

lavabo French term meaning "wash bowl"

lead glass or crystal A particularly clear type of glass with a high lead oxide content. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

lead glaze A clear glaze that includes a lead based component. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

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Limoges Limoges French porcelain with its scalloped edges, gold décor and classic hand painted designs is a favorite among collectors. Beginning in the late 1700's until approximately 1930, the highly coveted china known as Limoges porcelain was actually produced by a number of factories in Limoges, France. Although porcelain china was produces in Limoges, France after 1930, as per market demands fashions in decoration became less flamboyant giving wat to more basic designs. Much of the porcelain uncovered by collectors today is American representations of early Limoges, with Haviland being one of the more prominent manufacturers. During the late Victorian period, class-conscious brides often selected Haviland dinnerware sets as their wedding china. The Haviland Company manufactured specific designs, colors, and styles popular among the American consumer, which were drastically different from those desired by their European counterparts. Haviland dinnerware was widely used in America from the mid-19th century to the beginning of the great depression. Haviland produced quaint dinnerware that has captivated the interest of many collectors who may overlook other Limoges manufacturers that have produced a large array of Limoges china and decorative accessories often featuring more vivid coloration and more decorative gold trim. During the 1920’s, as many as 48 companies were producing wares marked Limoges, many featuring additional marks denoting the factory they were produced in and the artist who decorated each piece. The factories generally manufactured molded undecorated blanks that were decorated in studios or exported without decoration and completed at the destination. During the 19th Century, china-painting students often decorated blanks exported to America. This practice has resulted in a discrepancy in the quality and value of Limoges décor imported during this era. Other pieces of Limoges porcelain were decorated with transfers, which were essentially decals mimicking the hand decorated designs. Although intrinsically not as valuable as hand painted designs, expertly done transfers can be more valuable than a poorly hand-decorated piece. Source:

lithography A method of printing where a design is drawn in ink on to a stone surface and then transferred to the object. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

longcase clock A weight-driven, free standing clock. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

Louis XIV Known as the Sun King, he reigned in France between 1643 and 1715. Influenced the Baroque style in furniture during the earlier part of the reign which later developed into the Regence style. Mahogany and oak were widely used. Baroque was large, masculine, and symmetrical. Regence was characterized by its use of curves and introduction of Chinoiserie. Ornamentation was usually done with rocks, shells, and flowers.

Louis XV Louis XV - He reigned in France between 1715 and 1774. The style of furniture was essentially Rococo with soft, flowing lines, shell and flower ornamentation, rich upholstery, inlaying and painted furniture.

Louis XVI Louis XVI - Reigned in France between 1774 and 1793. Characteristics of this style were rectangular lines, architectural ornamentation, classic symmetry, marquetry, and the predominant use of mahogany.

lowboy Chest of drawers mounted on short legs. Usually about three feet high.

lowboy Queen Anne Mahogany Lowboy, late 18th century and later, the rectangular top with molded edge above a case fitted with a short drawer flanked to either side by a deeper drawer, raised on tapering circular legs ending in pad feet.

lustre An iridescent finish found on pottery and produced using metallic oxides. Source: Antiques Price Guide 2004, Judith Miller ISBN -7894-9550-3

lyre back Design commonly used by Duncan Phyfe on the backs of chairs. A representation of lyre figures carved from wood with brass wires used to represent the strings.