It has been said that, “the truest expression of a man’s inner-self is that which he does 
with his hands.” Handcrafted lanterns are not just for lighting, they are a work of art that can be custom built for you to express your unique personality and design style.
When going to select a lantern at your local lighting showroom, the items displayed can be overwhelming, confusing, limited and often misleading. Most lanterns on display claim that they are made by American-based companies, but in actuality they are manufactured by poor quality Asian and Indian imports and only warehoused and distributed by the American companies. There are many ways to distinguish the poor quality imports from the quality handcrafted lanterns that are available on the market.
- Here are the most important questions to ask when shopping for handcrafted lanterns: What materials were used to make the lantern?
- What gauge metals were used to manufacture the lantern?
- Are there any steel parts on the lantern?
- Are the lanterns put together with punch rivets or are they hand-soldered?
- Are the painted products powder-coated over tin, cast aluminum or solid metals?
- Are the metal finishes real or plated (faux)? If real, do they mix in additives, to the brass or copper, of zinc and tin that would break down the metal composition over a short period of time.
- Are the lanterns repairable if they should get damaged?
- How do I replace the bulb? Do I have to scrape my hand reaching in to change the bulb or is there a hinged-door for easy access?
If the showroom does not have the answer to any of these questions, then in most instances the fixture is a poor quality import.
What to look for in handcrafted high quality lanterns made in the USA:
- Handcrafted lanterns are made from heavy gauge solid brass or copper with different chemically aged patina’s, not painted, faux finishes.
- All the structural supports and mounting brackets are usually made of cast-brass, not steel or alloys.
- All the assembling of the fixtures is done with lead-silver hand-solder and never punch riveted or crimped.
- All re-lamping and cleaning of the glass is achieved through easy-access, hinged doors.
- All handcrafted lanterns are repairable and built to last a lifetime.
- All handcrafted lanterns can be custom-sized.
- All handcrafted lanterns can be custom-designed. Add a design feature or leave one off. Add light clusters or choose single bulb options. Add a mirror or mercury reflectors. The possibilities are endless.
Make sure that the quality of your lantern isn’t compromised by purchasing on price alone. Buying made-in-America, handcrafted lanterns will allow you to choose a lantern that will stand the test of time and never need to be replaced within a few years. The Copper Lantern has adopted the philosophy that lighting is a work of art and that “the truest expression of a man’s inner-self is that which he does with his hands”.
Come visit our Copper Lantern showroom or browse our online store for a variety of handcrafted lanterns and other lighting products.
