Featured 1st Day Open Thrift Store Find! Any Info on old theatre(?) wall sconces

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by journeymagazine, May 21, 2020.

  1. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    My favorite thrift store reopened today!! -New rules include wearing masks required, one way aisles & only a small group allowed in at a time (I was there about 1 - 1 1/2 hours early so I was #3 and in the first group!) and after 2 months of selling stuff but not being able to buy anything - I think I was junk drunk!
    BUT! I did find these 2 (2 pairs of 2 taped together for only $12.95 each pair!) pairs / 4 total old sconces that remind me of the ones on the walls of some of my dad's old theatres (which I saw when I turned the house lights on to sweep up popcorn & cups & stuff at the end of the night)!
    But I'm not sure if they are as big as the ones I remember as a kid - these are 12" tall x 5" wide x 6" depth.

    BUT - I'm still hopeful because the theatre sconces were only used to show you (dimly) where seats were & to not disturb the people watching the movie, so they had low watt bulbs - like these.
    Where else would these sconces have be used with imitation candle lighting? (my 1st thought was "circus" because of the colorful stones in them!)

    Any idea of their age?
    Are these real old or made to look old? (because I'm not sure but they may be made of pot metal?)
    Any information would be greatly appreciated - these bring back good memories & finding them on 1st day back thrifting was like the cherry on top of a ice cream sundae - it just made a good day better!

    FURNITURE SCONCE 1930s 1CAA.JPG FURNITURE SCONCE 1930s 2CAA.JPG FURNITURE SCONCE 1930s 2AA.JPG FURNITURE SCONCE 1930s 3AA.JPG FURNITURE SCONCE 1930s 4CAA.JPG FURNITURE SCONCE 1930s 4DAA.JPG

    This is how I found them taped together - only 1 still had the complete fake candle sleeve but those are available, right?

    FURNITURE SCONCE 1930s 5A_AA.JPG
    FURNITURE SCONCE 1930s 5AAA.JPG
     
    judy, Aquitaine, lovewrens and 5 others like this.
  2. lvetterli

    lvetterli Well-Known Member

    I'm no help but those are NICE! What a great way to get back in the swing of things!

    Linda
     
    judy, pearlsnblume and Christmasjoy like this.
  3. bluumz

    bluumz Quite Busy

    Those are fabulous!
    I can't wait for my thrifts to open.

    You'd know better than I... would actual theater sconces each have had its own on/off switch like these do? And be wired for a plug?
     
  4. gregsglass

    gregsglass Well-Known Member

    Hi,
    These were big sellers in the 1920s. Usually you see the round ceiling ones with three bulbs. I sold a set of a pair of the sconses and the ceiling light for 45 dollars back in 2007.
    greg
     
  5. gregsglass

    gregsglass Well-Known Member

    Hi,
    These were big sellers in the 1920s. The ceiling light usually had 3 bulbs. I sold a set of these, one ceiling light with a pair of sconces for 45 dollars back in 2007.
    greg
     
  6. Rayo56

    Rayo56 Well-Known Member

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  7. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    Thanks Rayo56!
     
    Aquitaine likes this.
  8. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    Nice! Agree with the dating, 20s or maybe up through 30s. Have a little bit of a Deco feel. Amazing the paint has held up so well, that will be a plus.

    With 4 of them they must have been in a larger space at one time.

    How fun to be back at your thrift. Amazing there was a waiting line 1 1/2 hours prior to opening. It must be a place known for goodies... :cool:
     
    judy, Aquitaine and pearlsnblume like this.
  9. pearlsnblume

    pearlsnblume Well-Known Member

    Totally and completely jealous that you got to go to a thrift shop.
    Enjoy.
     
    judy and Aquitaine like this.
  10. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Score! Our thrifts haven't opened back up yet.
     
    judy, cartoongirl and Aquitaine like this.
  11. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

  12. cartoongirl

    cartoongirl "Don't Blink!"

    nice! sets of 2 or 4 sell well. I've sold polychrome sconces like these in the past...i can't find your exact pair but many similar in my 'Lighting Fixtures of the Depression Era Book 1 by Jo Ann Thomas'.
    I don't think the maker matters...it's the style
     
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  13. Iowa Jayhawk

    Iowa Jayhawk Well-Known Member

    Hotel fixtures maybe? Bathroom or over a bedside table?
     
    judy likes this.
  14. Bookahtoo

    Bookahtoo Moderator Moderator

    OMG - I love those!!!!
     
    judy likes this.
  15. Oldlampguy

    Oldlampguy New Member

    Congratulations for the nice find! The candle style wall sconces were common for interior housing decoration in the 1920's to 30's. Your sconces appear to be decorated on solid brass, higher quality than most. Replacement candle socket covers are still manufactured and easy to locate online.
     
  16. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    Is there a way to tell if they are brass or metal? Are the colored parts polychrome?
     
  17. rink28

    rink28 Well-Known Member

    These are metal. They look like brass because they have gilt paint on it making it look like brass.

    20200522_220536.jpg
     
  18. journeymagazine

    journeymagazine Well-Known Member

    rink28 - that's paint or tar(?) on top of the gold part. Also I put a magnet on it & it just slid off - would it stick to brass?
    Thanks
     
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