:: About Us ::

Authentic Designs makes reproductions of colonial and early American lighting fixtures. We began by researching the originals which we found in historic New England inns, museums and private collections, and now recreate them in perfect detail.

For people who are restoring older homes, and for those who enjoy the grace and beauty of colonial designs in more contemporary settings, Authentic Designs crafts hundreds of chandeliers, sconces, lanterns and table lamps. They are electrified with fully concealed wiring, or left unwired for candles.

Not only are our designs faithful renderings of the originals, but as far as possible, our reproduction methods are too. Our lighting fixtures are made of solid American brass and the finest Vermont maple. Wherever feasible, each piece is cut, bent, shaped and turned by hand using techniques that have not changed since colonial times.

Authentic Designs is proud of the superior quality of our finishes. We use the finest materials, formulated especially for us, to achieve the soft patina of aged colonial metals. Our brass pieces are hand burnished to acquire a golden lustre. We also use an 18th century pewter formula, and a plating technique unique to Authentic Designs, to hand apply pewter or gunmetal finishes to our solid brass fixtures.

The result is lighting fixtures of extraordinary beauty and unmatched craftsmanship. We invite you to come and judge for yourself.