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November 2023 by Sara O.
I have a 1915 Tiffany lamp stand that my mom purchased many years ago in a roadside antique shop. It had once been painted and poorly stripped and its reconfigured wiring was a fire hazard. Matt Shields rewired the lamp perfectly, with much care to match wiring and pulls. He also refinished the metal stand beautifully. I can see now what my mom had visualized when she bought the stand. I'm so grateful to have found M.Shields.
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July 2023 by Laura G.
Best place on the Peninsula to get your lamp fixed! Matt brings many years of experience and his prices are reasonable.
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September 2021 by Ashley M.
Super friendly guy and great lamp repair service! Happy to support a local business and repair an old lamp instead of just throwing it away and buying more.
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September 2021 by Kate S.
Super friendly guy and great lamp repair service! Happy to support a local business and repair an old lamp instead of just throwing it away and buying more.
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May 2021 by Marilyn B.
Mr. Shields is an Artist. We have been the recipients of his specialized skills for about a year now. We always enjoy our visits and every time we think we are done something new and exciting pops up that we just can't live without. We recently commissioned a gasilier to electricity and cannot even find it on the web. Many one of a kind jewels are in his shop. The man is a master at his craft. Make sure you take a chicken snack for his Dalmatian Pepe.
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February 2020 by Craig Roche
A remarkable resource for vintage and antique lighting. Matt possesses encyclopedic knowledge of all things lighting and is a remarkable craftsman as well.
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November 2019 by Richard Albert (Richard Albert)
One of a kind. Sort of a watchmaker for luminaries. Many of his clients are also in fact luminaries. From vintage Disneyana to Bauhaus to crystal chandeliers, Shields has the knack. He doesn't just 'fix'. He repairs, refurbishes and reconstructs. He is the curator of a lamp museum, where happily most everything is for sale except the resident Dalmatian. Free parking.
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December 2018 by richard albert
One of a kind. Sort of a watchmaker for luminaries. Many of his clients are also in fact luminaries. From vintage Disneyana to Bauhaus to crystal chandeliers, Shields has the knack. He doesn't just 'fix'. He repairs, refurbishes and reconstructs. He is the curator of a lamp museum, where happily most everything is for sale except the resident Dalmatian. Free parking.
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August 2018 by Lucinda T.
I can't speak to this guy's skills with antique lighting, as he really didn't finish anything for me. I can say that under his direction, I spent $500 on a very special shade to convert to a pendant lamp, I obtained all kinds of special measurements for him in order that he could do the job "properly," and he proceeded then to hold my lamp without working on it or informing me as to status for an entire year. Also, every time I went over there with more of the information he had asked for, he talked my ear off without regard for my time as a mother of young children. When I called him to ask him why I hadn't heard from him, he went on to say that initially I hadn't gotten the measurements fast enough, so he had used some part for the lamp he'd intended to use on my lamp on another person's, and to blame me for not having gotten back to him with measurements immediately when I was in the middle of having a baby, and he kind of followed me out to my car going on about why this not having worked out was somehow my fault! You're a lamp specialist; don't you have access to a way to order special parts?? Isn't it your duty to communicate wth customers? Also, the home for which I bought the lamp is now sold. This guy may or may not have restoration skills (I have no way of knowing), but for sure, he doesn't have people skills! I will be going to Stanford Electric in Mountain View in the future.
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May 2018 by Patrice M.
My expensive floor lamp was damaged by the movers and I thought it was a lost cause, but M. Shields was able to repair the lamp to full function, and I'm very grateful. As others have stated, he works by appointment. Highly recommended.
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May 2017 by H. H.
Check out the before and after photos on my 96 year old original outside wall sconces. A picture says 5 stars. Friendly, professional and knowledgable. Unfortunately he's super busy so you need to be patient, but it is worth the wait.
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August 2016 by Britt N.
Note - he is BY APPOINTMENT, so call before you go! The only real heirloom my family has is a nursery lamp that my grandmother purchased in the 50's. It has zero antique value but obviously, lots of sentimental value. I brought it here to be rewired and purchased a new American made lamp shade that he happened to have in the back. Other reviews have said he is expensive, but he is worth it, as he is a craftsman, not just a repairman. Here is why I am so happy with him: He treated my rinky dink kid's lamp that my Grandma probably bought from the five and dime just like he would have treated someone else's thousand dollar antique, and spent the time with me to explain my options, what he recommended doing, and why. He was very straightforward on costs, and had the rewiring done very quickly. He was very respectful and careful when handling my piece, so I knew it would not suffer damage while in his care. When I brought it in, the lamp was not working and I forgot to tell him that there was a sequence in which the bulbs turned on, i.e. one switch turn for one bulb, another turn for both, etc. When I picked it up, he had repaired it with the correct sequence without me even saying anything! He's very knowledgeable - he said that historically these types of lamps always operated a certain way. I have my eye on a pair of expensive Borghese lamps that need some restoration and will definitely bring them here once they are in my possession - I know he will do a beautiful job with them.
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November 2015 by Patricia P.
Mr. Shields has a wonderful way with each piece you bring in. He needs our support we may lose him since he has a small business. His rent is going up and he may note able to stay where he is. Anyone looking for unusual lighting, antique lighting should see him first.
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August 2015 by Lawrence S.
I almost never write a Yelp comment, but as I sit in my den reading by the light of a lamp that Matthew created for me, I just had to let it be known what an artist he is. His shop is better than most museums I have been in, and the creations from artifacts is beyond words. He has worked on 3 projects so far, and each one is astonishing. First time, I brought him 2 antique lamps that needed fixing up. Perfect! Another opportunity was to bring in an antique lamp that was barely able to standon it's own. Matthew made it look as good as it did when my grandmother bought it many years ago. The most astonishing work of brilliance by Matthew was his creation of two (2) wrought iron horseheads from an old southern plantation. Matthew took a long look at them, and the artist created the base, wired them, and even help me find the perfect shade to enhance their beauty. If you are looking for museum quality work, an artist that can envision your ideas and thoughts, has a mind of his own, and enjoy hearing a bit of history, then Matthew is your man. I cannot say enough about the work and the person. I am looking for new projects that he can create for/with me !
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August 2015 by Mr Kitty K.
Mom's 1960's vintage Waterford Crystal Chandelier was her pride and joy! Unfortunately it was in sorry shape, aside from needing professional cleaning, the lights no longer worked due to old wiring and broken sockets. We needed an expert who had experience with vintage light fixtures, so after calling several lighting stores I was beginning to worry that I would not find anyone who was up to the job. I discovered Matt Shields via yelp (he prefers phone to email). Matt came out a couple of days later, dismantled the chandelier, brought it to his shop. He rewired the chandelier, replaced sockets, new bulbs and other parts. He returned 3 days later to assemble and install a much improved chandelier, restored to its former glory. This was an expensive job, but worth every penny. Matt is a one man show, very knowledgeable and a real craftsman (few and far between these days). He also repaired and rewired a 1930's gooseneck lamp, I am so glad we found him!
