A short look at table lamps in their history will reveal to most people -- who probably were not even aware of the fact -- that lamps as we know them first came into existence nearly 72, 000 years back. Humans back then probably took shells or hollowed rocks and placed some sort of tinder were kindling in them and then poured animal fat on the tinder and then lit it.<br><br>The fat made for an excellent fuel source that burned for some time so that humans could enjoy the light that spilled from the lamp. Over the millennia, humans began to look at natural states and started to create lamps in the image of those shapes through pottery technology. After humans figured out how to work with metal, lamps made from the material, along with wicks, soon came on the scene.<br><br>The ancient Greeks were the first people who began to look at lamps as more than just utilitarian mechanisms for casting light. They took terra-cotta and made attractive lamps that quickly replaced handheld torches. The word 'lamp' comes from the Greek word 'lampas.' In the 1700s, inventors created the central burner, meaning that fuel sources could be safely enclosed and light could be regulated.<br><br>Soon thereafter, glass workers looked at these lamps and figured out a way to create a glass enclosure over the flame which they called a chimney. These chimneys kept the flame safe from air flow that could cause the flame to sputter out. By 1783, the Swiss had created hollow wicks that could be safely kept within the glass chimney, thereby reducing the risk of fire.<br><br>About a decade after that, the classic gas lamp came into being. 1792 saw the introduction of the first commercial gas lamps in the home. They utilized pumped in coal gas to create the fuel source for their flame. They were an instant hit, not only for the home but also for lighting of city streets. The early 19th century saw most big cities with streets that were completely gas lit.<br><br>By the turn of that century, the American inventor Thomas Edison had perfected his incandescent bulb, which was a qualitative step forward and quickly replaced the gas lamp. With the creation of the bulb, table lamps as household furniture and decoration really began to come into their own. We owe much to the invention of the incandescent bulb, it is safe to say.<br><br>It was around the 1930s that table lamps became a regular and common presence in just about every home. Today, they are as ubiquitous as running water and electricity in the household. Additionally, they have tended to become even more functional and attractive as the development in light bulbs have improved. There have been, though, good looking lamps around for centuries.<br><br>Nowadays, lamps are appreciated not only for their functional uses but also for the style that they can bring to most any decor. The best known examples of table lamps include the Tiffany lamp and the Victorian lamp. Also, many lamps such as contemporary and rustic lamps have been around for many years. When selecting table lamps, consider how much light you will need them to spread and also any particular style you might desire.