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	The oil lamp appeared at a very early date, accompanied by the candle held in a candlestick or candelabra, and was in wide use up until the 18th C.&nbsp; During the 18th C the homes of the rich were lit by chandeliers which became increasingly decorative with the developpement of the glass industry towards the end of the century.&nbsp; In the early 19th C the petrol lamp was massed produced and in the mid-19th C the gas lamp appeared.&nbsp; The gas lamp was mainly used in street lighting and in public buildings.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;The arrival of electricity deeply modified lighting at the end of the 19th C.&nbsp; At the same time ornate glass lamp shades appeared,&nbsp; and lamps such as the Art Nouveau lamp became decorative items as well as being functional.&nbsp; These lamps are highly collectible as are those of the Art Deco period with their angular lines and squared glass.&nbsp; Vintage lamps of the 1950s in ceramic and plaster are inexpensive fun items and the large industrial lamp is sought after for lighting lofts.</p>