Small Home Gazette, Winter 2022

Lighting the Bungalow

by Tim Counts

We have all heard William Morris’s oft-quoted dictum, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” When it comes to equipping your bungalow, there are few items that can satisfy both requirements the way a light fixture can.

The original light fixtures in most of our homes are long gone, victim to decades of fashion changes. What we find hanging in their place may be useful but often far from beautiful. Sooner or later, we yearn to bring back a hint of our home’s original glow.

What Style Is Right for My House?

What style of light fixtures you put in your house is a matter of personal taste, of course. But if you are like most old-house dwellers, you would probably like some parameters that are based on historic precedence to help narrow the options. When many of us moved into our bungalow or other early 20^th century house, we were drawn to Mission-style light fixtures. After all, they are dramatic and look great paired with bold, rectilinear woodwork.

But there are other historically appropriate choices. In fact, it is likely that Mission light fixtures were not the most popular style during the bungalow’s heyday. John Remackel, former owner of the much-missed John’s Antiques in St. Paul, once told us he had seen original lighting in hundreds of Twin Cities bungalows over the years, and very few were Mission-style fixtures. “The Mission style was no longer in fashion by the time most Twin Cities bungalows were built in the early 1920s,” he explained. Instead, Colonial Revival-style fixtures were more commonly found here.

If you are looking to install lighting in your old house with something more authentic, first set aside preconceptions (and even your personal taste) and consider the full range of styles available. Below is a brief overview of the lighting styles that were most popular during the bungalow era. The categories and date ranges (and most of the photos) are from Rejuvenation.com, founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1977. For years they were well known among old-house fans for their exacting reproductions of historic light fixtures. Rejuvenation was purchased by Williams-Sonoma in 2011, and its focus is now on contemporary lighting and house parts. A few of the historic fixtures are still available, but you have to dig for them on their website.

Mission and Arts & Crafts

(1900–1925)

Mission fixtures fit typical bungalow interiors to a “T.” During the bungalow era, however, this style was most often found in more high-end, “artistic” interiors, especially at the beginning of the Arts & Crafts movement. Reproductions of Mission-style fixtures are still widely available today.

Light fixtures in the broadly-defined Arts & Crafts style had more variety than most of us realize. The look can be difficult to pinpoint, but it usually includes angular forms paired with elements that appear to be hand-wrought.

Colonial Revival

(1915–1935)

Rejuvenation lighting company described this style as “clean and classic with just a touch of formality.” Despite its name, this style bears only the vaguest resemblance to what was used by settlers of the original American colonies. But nostalgia for the era was rampant during the early 20^th century, and merchandisers labeled anything “colonial” that they could get away with. Colonial Revival light fixtures likely graced the majority of Minnesota bungalows.

Sheffield

(1900–1935)

Closely related to the Colonial Revival style, Sheffield was described as follows in the Rejuvenation catalog: “With its distinctive shell-like ribbing and elegant, refined lines, Sheffield lighting says ‘old’ without saying ‘old fashioned’.” This is a beautiful style that has not been overexposed. It is not easy to find reproductions of this style, but vintage examples can still be located.

Neoclassical

(1910–1930)

With its clean lines and subtle motifs of garland swags, acanthus leaves, dentil molding and scrolls, Neoclassical fixtures will add a touch of class to your bungalow. The classic fixture in this style is a large bowl made of white or frosted glass—or even alabaster—hanging by three rods or chains over the dining room table. Brass Light Gallery (brasslightgallery.com) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, still makes splendid reproduction alabaster Neoclassical fixtures.

Romantic Revival or Historic Revival

(1910–1930)

This is a loosely associated group that includes fixtures that are reminiscent of Spanish, Mediterranean, Tudor, Medieval, Moorish, Gothic and Hollywood architecture styles. They were most popular during the 1920s and ‘30s when Hollywood movies brought exotic, far-away lands to American audiences. These fixtures often had exposed bulbs (no shades covering them) in round or flame shapes.

Art Deco

(1920s–early 1940s)

Art deco light fixtures are, technically, a post-bungalow style. But they can still look good in a bungalow, especially those with rich metal finishes and amber-tinted glass shades. Unlike the Arts & Crafts era’s emphasis on natural materials, the Art Deco movement embraced streamlined forms made possible by emerging technologies. Early Art Deco fixtures have polychromed finishes; later examples were brighter, with polished chrome finishes and white glass shades.

Resources

Lightworks
1325 Winter St. NE, Annex, Minneapolis
612-724-8311
lightworkslighting.com
This business offers historic reproductions and custom-made light fixtures and also carries a good selection of restored antique lighting. They offer lamp and lighting repair, including certified UL-listed restoration.

Carol Eppel Antiques
Stillwater, MN
612-210-1611
caroleppelantiques.com
Carol Eppel offers a wide range of Arts & Crafts items, including vintage light fixtures. Visit her website for current inventory.

Northwest Architectural Salvage
981 Selby Ave., St. Paul
651-644-9270
northwest-architectural-salvage.business.site
In addition to a wide range of salvaged house parts, this business offers complete rewiring and refurbishing of vintage light fixtures.

Eastwood Gallery
1818 Selby Ave., St. Paul
651-695-1902
eastwoodgallery.com
This local business specializes in Arts & Crafts antiques, including lighting fixtures.