Lighting the Gulf Coast

Every Maker Leaves Their Mark

Story courtesy of Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights

In an age of mass production, true craftsmanship has become increasingly rare. There is a distinctive luxury in something made by hand. The pieces that endure—both in quality and in sentiment—are those that bear the unmistakable imprint of the artisan, revealed through subtle hammer marks, hand-set rivets, and the confidence that comes from generations of knowledge passed from one craftsman to the next. For more than eight decades, Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights, the bespoke maker of copper lanterns based in New Orleans, has remained steadfast in that philosophy.

S ince 1945, every Bevolo lantern has been handcrafted using many of the same techniques established when Andrew Bevolo Sr. partnered with celebrated Louisiana architect A. Hays Town to create the Original French Quarter Lantern. While the company has evolved and innovation has refined the process, the guiding principle has never changed: build each lantern to last a lifetime while honoring the makers behind its creation.

Bevolo gas lanterns welcome owners and guests to this residence in Alys Beach, Florida. | Photo by Array 30A, courtesy of Corcoran Reverie

Inside the workshop, craftsmanship unfolds with remarkable precision. Sheets of copper are carefully cut, shaped, and riveted by hand before moving from one artisan to another, each contributing years of experience to the finished piece. Unlike factory-made lighting, where automation often replaces artistry, every Bevolo lantern reflects the rhythm, patience, and expertise of the people who made it.

Perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in the lantern’s signature hand-riveted construction. More than a defining aesthetic, each rivet contributes to the structural integrity of the piece while becoming part of its architectural character—a lasting reminder that every lantern was assembled one detail at a time.

The Bevolo showroom and studio in New Orleans celebrates the brand’s legacy while allowing visitors to browse designs.

As each lantern nears completion, the iconic Bevolo brass tag is added. More than an identifying mark, it represents authenticity, craftsmanship, and a legacy that has illuminated homes for generations. Much like the signature on a fine painting or the maker’s mark on heirloom furniture, it reflects the enduring value of work created with intention. Some of the most remarkable details, however, remain largely unseen.

At the heart of every gas lantern is Bevolo’s patented gas jet assembly, thoughtfully engineered to produce an exceptionally efficient and reliable flame while preserving the unmistakable romance of traditional gaslight. The result is the brand’s celebrated batwing flame—a graceful, dancing silhouette that transforms illumination into atmosphere, bringing warmth, movement, and unmistakable character to the architecture it adorns.

Each finished lantern is assigned its own unique serial number, preserving a permanent record of its origin and ensuring it can be serviced, restored, or referenced for decades to come. Alongside that number are the initials of the artisan who completed it—a discreet maker’s mark connecting the finished lantern to the individual who brought it to life.

As the years pass and the copper develops the rich patina that only time can create, those initials remain. They stand as a lasting reminder that before the lantern became part of a home’s story, it first belonged to the craftsman who shaped it.

Every rivet, brass tag, and serial number reflects a tradition of craftsmanship that celebrates Bevolo’s legacy of eighty-plus years, and behind every lantern is an artisan whose work continues to leave its mark for generations to come.

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Visit Bevolo.com to learn more or shop now.