Bevolo Lighting: The New Orleans Workshop Creating America’s Most Iconic Lanterns
Step inside Bevolo’s New Orleans workshop, where copper lanterns are still handmade — rivet by rivet — just as they were nearly 80 years ago. Image: Liza Graves
I’ve been a long-time admirer of Bevolo. Their metal lanterns are part of the charm of New Orleans — the flickering gaslights that line balconies, courtyards, and historic streets. I had only seen a large collection of Bevolo lighting at Architectural Heritage in Birmingham, AL. But last month, I was able to tour their French Quarter workshop and see craftsmen working up close. I left not only more impressed, but genuinely inspired.
A Legacy Rooted in Craft
Bevolo has been making copper lighting by hand in Louisiana since 1945. Its founder, Andrew Bevolo Sr., was an Italian immigrant and a skilled metalworker whose career included stints at Ford Motor Company, Sikorsky Aircraft, and Higgins Industries — the New Orleans shipbuilder known for its landing crafts used in World War II.
After the war, Andrew opened his own metalworking shop in the French Quarter. His collaboration with Louisiana architect A. Hays Town led to the creation of what became an American design icon: the French Quarter Lantern.
Instead of using solder, which can split or crack with temperature changes, Bevolo used hand-riveting. That design allows the copper to expand and contract naturally, making each fixture incredibly durable, whether it’s braving the relentless sun and humidity of the Gulf Coast, strong coastal winds, or even freezing winters.
Nearly 80 years later, those same techniques define Bevolo’s process. The company continues to handcraft every lantern in Louisiana, maintaining the integrity of a tradition that’s as practical as it is beautiful.
Hand-Made, Start to Finish
All Bevolo lights are made in Louisiana, across a network of facilities. At its French Quarter location, visitors can walk through the public-facing workshop to watch craftsmen at work, cutting, shaping, and riveting copper entirely by hand.
The setup feels like a living museum. Workbenches upstairs are made from reclaimed bowling alley floors, and many of the machines still in use were salvaged from the Higgins shipyard after World War II. The company’s decision to maintain several sites also means that, if one location is affected by weather, others can continue operations — an important advantage in a region where hurricanes are a constant reality.
The process itself hasn’t changed much since 1945. Every lantern begins as a flat sheet of copper. It’s cut, rolled, and riveted by hand. Artisans use decades-old tools to fasten copper layers together, one rivet at a time.
One of the team members I met explained the smallest French Quarter lantern contains around 95 rivets, each one individually set. The result is both functional and beautiful — a structure that’s built to flex with the seasons, ensuring it won’t crack or separate, even after years outdoors.
The Bevolo Finish
Once a light is assembled, it’s dipped into Bevolo’s signature oxidation bath, a carefully guarded chemical formula that gives each piece its distinct caramel-brown tone. As one craftsman joked, “It’s our Coca-Cola recipe.” The oxidation bath jump-starts the patina, giving each lantern its signature caramel tone.
Because Bevolo doesn’t seal the copper afterward, the surface continues to evolve naturally, deepening in color and character over time. “We want [the lights] to evolve,” a team member told me. “That’s what makes it Bevolo.”
Each fixture takes about eight to 10 hours to complete from start to finish. Once oxidized, the lighting fixture moves through additional stages — fitting with either gas or electric components, installing glass, leveling, and final inspection.
Even the packaging process is thoughtful: the team uses carefully packed paper to protect the glass without applying too much pressure. After nearly eight decades, they’ve perfected the balance between handcrafted art and precision assembly, and this includes the shipping process.
The Makers Behind the Mark
What makes Bevolo truly special are the people who build each light. Every craftsman has a maker’s mark, a small stamped symbol that appears on their work. Customers can even visit Bevolo’s website to identify who made their lantern.
It’s a reminder that every piece has a human story behind it. The company trains its artisans for months, starting with simpler designs before advancing to intricate custom work. Each person and each rivet adds to the individuality of the final product.
The Recent Flower Showhouse
This past October, FLOWER Magazine’s showhouse was in Nashville, TN. Over 30 Bevolo lights were featured, both indoors and outdoors. Scroll through the embedded Instagram post below to see a wide variety of Bevolo styles on display at this gorgeous house.
View this post on Instagram
Gas + Electric
While Bevolo is known for its gas lanterns, the company also produces an extensive line of electric options. The gas lights feature Bevolo’s patented “bat-wing flame,” designed to stay lit in wind and rain while remaining highly energy-efficient. Many homeowners opt for gas in areas where ambiance matters most, such as front entrances, patios, or courtyards, while using electric fixtures elsewhere for convenience.
Both types are built the same way, from the same copper, by the same craftsmen. Whether it’s a gas lantern with its gentle flame or an electric pendant glowing softly through glass, each carries that unmistakable Bevolo look.
Built to Last
Another Bevolo hallmark is longevity. The company never discontinues a style, meaning a lantern purchased decades ago can still be repaired or refurbished today. Customers can return older fixtures for new glass, oxidation, or components. “We can make it look new again,” one team member explained, “but honestly, most people love the patina.”
That sentiment captures the brand’s philosophy: time enhances beauty. Many of Bevolo’s earliest lights are still in service across New Orleans, their soft glow unchanged since the mid-20th century.
Design as Partnership
Beyond their renowned craftsmanship, Bevolo offers complimentary design services for homeowners, designers, and architects. Clients can send in photos or plans, and Bevolo’s team helps select the right size, bracket, and finish for each space.
The approach is collaborative rather than prescriptive. “We’d rather help someone pick the right light than sell them the wrong one,” a designer told me during my visit. That kind of thoughtful partnership, balancing aesthetics with proportion and placement, is one reason Bevolo remains beloved by designers and homeowners alike.
Whether you elect to incorporate a piece of Bevolo lighting into your own home or take a tour of the facility in the French Quarter next time you are in New Orleans, this is an American brand to celebrate.
Find out more at bevolo.com
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Liza Graves
As CEO of StyleBlueprint, Liza also regularly writes for SB. Most of her writing is now found in the recipe archives as cooking is her stress relief!