About Vintage Lights

Who are we?

It was in 2007 that we started Vintage Lights, then known as DesignLover, the first business project that we did together. ‘We’ is Pieter and Margriet Akkerman. After visiting several vintage design specialized trade shows, we were inspired. We fell in love with the designs, especially those which can shine a light on dark afternoons and long winter evenings. We love Dutch design (Hala, Anvia, Philips), Scandinavian lights and have an unmistakable preference for copper details.

After seeing more of the market, we felt the need to create an overview of all vintage design webshops, store locations and items offered for sale throughout Europe, functioning as a reference portal. VNTG (previously RetroStart) was launched in 2008 to connect supply and demand and by now has become an important hub for professionals and private buyers.

While we were still visiting trade shows dedicated to 20th century furniture abroad, we missed such a fair in our homeland Holland. It became our wish to create an event where vintage enthusiasts could meet with design professionals. Taking place in Holland, though attracting participants and public from all over Europe due to its large scale and quality. In 2012 it was done: the first edition of Design Icons Amsterdam. The fair has since become a quality trade show, returning each year in April with 75+ international vintage design specialists.

In the past years, we have put a lot of effort in VNTG and Design Icons. And we will continue to do so. Though at the same time, we would like to go back to where we started and put new energy into our business selling vintage lights. Because in between the website building and customer management, we simply love to polish brass and make that perfect product photo.

Buying vintage

Buying vintage, is buying a unique piece. As our lights are 40, 50, 60 years old, they have corresponding traces of use. It’s that vintage feel, of a quality piece that never got out of style as the decades passed by.

Any old wiring is replaced for new wiring to offer you a safe lamp. However: we cannot guarantee that our lights will meet todays stricter safety standards, because they were designed decades ago. We recommend to outsource the installation of your light to a professional electrician.

Regarding the condition of our lights, we use five categories. In order from best to lowest state:

★★★★★
no noticeable user marks / up to mint condition

★★★★☆
only minor user marks

★★★☆☆
lamp has (some) visible user marks, such as scratches / lacquer damage

★★☆☆☆
lamp has damaging / very clear user marks

★☆☆☆☆
broken / needs repair

Shipping

We offer free worldwide shipping on all items (including tracking code + insurance).

Warranty

If you are, for any reason, not happy with the light(s), contact us within 14 days after receiving your order. As soon as we have received the light(s), in their original condition, we will refund the total product price (excl. return shipping costs) without asking questions.

Discount

When ordering multiple items we offer discounts:

1+ items = 10% discount
2+ items = 15% discount
3+ items = 20% discount