Fairy Lamp Club Info

Diamond Quilted Mother of Pearl (DQMOP) pyramid-size fairy lamp shade on Taylor & Tunnicliff pottery base.	Samuel Clarke fairy lamp made by Stevens and Williams

Pyramid-size hanging fairy lamp in blue Clarke's Verre Moiré pattern	Satin Burmese decorated in Hawthorn design fairy lamp made by Thomas Webb for Samuel Clarke

Collection of Verre Moiré fairy lamps commissioned by Samuel Clarke. Maker(s) unknown	Collection of pyramid-size fairy lamps in overshot glass commissioned by Samuel Clarke. Maker(s) unknown

The Fairy Lamp Club, established in 1996, is dedicated to the research and advancement of information related to Victorian and contemporary fairy lamps. It is the largest club dedicated to this specialized collectible. The members, approximately 125, are throughout the United States with members also from Canada, England, Australia, and Hong Hong. The membership includes many collectors who have dedicated years—in many cases decades—to researching and collecting Victorian and contemporary fairy lamps and other candle-burning devices. They are an invaluable source of information and share their experience freely with other club members through their contributions to the Fairy Lamp Newsletter and the on-line Fairy Lamp Discussion Group, www.fairylampforum.com

The Fairy Lamp Newsletter is published in the months of February, May, August, and November. The primary focus of the newsletter is Victorian era fairy lamps, but its content is open to contemporary fairy lamps as well. In addition to articles specific to fairy lamps, the newsletter often contains photos of previously undocumented fairy lamps, classified ads with fairy lamps and other related items for sale or trade, fairy lamp auction reports, Internet news, and relevant publications. If you collect or deal in fairy lamps, or simply want to learn more about them, you would find the newsletter both interesting and informative.

Fairy lamps are candle-burning lights. They are both functional, providing a little light to dark areas, and highly decorative. They come in seemingly endless designs and are made from a broad range of art glass materials including Burmese, satin glass, peachblow, Verre moiré (Nailsea-type) as well as crystal, lithophane and cameo designs. Their popularity peaked during the Victorian era and continues today among avid collectors. Best known of this period were the fairy lamps marketed by Samuel Clarke, in the United Kingdom. Clarke was a candle maker by trade but patented the holders for his candles. He granted licenses to many glass and porcelain manufacturers in the UK, Europe, and the United States to make the lamp parts and art glass shades for his company and other licensed distributors. Well known companies such as Thomas Webb, Stevens & Williams, Taylor & Tunnicliff, Royal Worchester, Doulton Burslem, and many others produced fairy lamps or parts for Clarke. Clarke's patented lamps came in three sizes (fairy, pyramid, and wee) each with at least a dome and a clear or matching lamp cup. The clear cups often were embossed with Clarke’s trademark and logo, a fairy holding a wand, hence the name "fairy lamp."

Samuel Clarke was a marketing genius and protected his patents fiercely. However, many companies produced similar "fairy lamps" with clever designs to avoid infringing on his patents.

Fairy lamps also came on elaborate stands, pottery bases, wall plaques, chandeliers and epergnes, often with nosegay type flower holders. In the late 1890’s Clarke patented the "Cricklite" style of candle lamp with clear domes to go with changing decorator tastes and to compete with more modern types of lighting. Silk shades were often added to domes to enhance the decorative effect. Cricklites were often used in formal dinner settings and provided ample candle lighting to enhance a formal or festive occasion. The Clarke Candle Company was sold to Price Candle Company in 1910.

Several other glass and candle companies in Europe and America made fairy lamps in similar styles during this same period. Some companies continue to make these lamps today. Collectors of both Victorian and contemporary fairy lamps are networked together through the Fairy Lamp Club.

The Fairy Lamp Club website is the most comprehensive websites dedicated to fairy lamps, especially Victorian-era fairy lamps, available on the Internet today.

The primary purpose of the Fairy Lamp Club website is to serve as a repository of information related to fairy lamps of the Victorian-era. It is an unrestricted website providing access to collectors, dealers, auctioneers, or anyone with simply an interest in learning more about this fascinating and diverse collectible.

The Fairy Lamp Club website is in a steady state of development and new information is added on a regular basis.

If you have an interest in fairy lamps, you must visit our website at: www.fairylampclub.com

For a one year Club membership and four issues of the Fairy Lamp Newsletter
simply fill out the application and send it along with $20 ($25 foreign) to:

If you need additional information about the Fairy Lamp Club or newsletter, just give me a call at (303) 816-0944 or drop me at note at: jimsapp7@msn.com