Composite sintered electrodes with improved properties that make them suitable for use in a variety of lamp types, are provided which comprise a refractory metal and a substantial amount of a refractory emitter oxide, either single layer or multiple layer, the composites having been subjected to sintering at an elevated temperature effective to form a composite electrode having a density of at least 85%, preferably in the presence of a sintering activator, such as for example, Ni, or mixture thereof with a sintering aid such as, for example, Li.sub.2 O.