toodletunes
Well-Known Member
Nice. On our list as well. Made a pilgrimage to Fallingwater this past fall. Architecture can be transcendent.
Let’s see those table lamps - vintage or modern
- Thread starter L-82
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Bicyclist
Super Member
The year we visited Taliesin we also went to a flw cottage in some woods in Wisconsin. The cottage could be rented and when we found it folks were cleaning. They let us tour it unaccompanied. So fun! This was years ago of course.
I'll have to get a shot of this lit up at night, when it really shines 
turnitup
No, the stereo won’t break the crystal...Oh CRAP!
Picked up a really funky (ugly) lamp a few weeks ago on FMP. It had a really hideous shade on it (whew!), but I knew what I was after, and the price was right - so right or wrong, it followed me home.
After some targeted surgery, rewiring, and the use of some spare parts that I had on hand, I morphed it into a period-specific swag lamp. Big fan of the 60/70’s period swags, and this was a good candidate for the transition. It now shines proud (after losing that really bad wig)! I figured it deserved a second chance, after spending its first 50+ years in its original, rather frightening, configuration. Poor thing, it deserved better!
As for the left-over lamp shade. I’m still mulling that one over!
After some targeted surgery, rewiring, and the use of some spare parts that I had on hand, I morphed it into a period-specific swag lamp. Big fan of the 60/70’s period swags, and this was a good candidate for the transition. It now shines proud (after losing that really bad wig)! I figured it deserved a second chance, after spending its first 50+ years in its original, rather frightening, configuration. Poor thing, it deserved better!
As for the left-over lamp shade. I’m still mulling that one over!
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mrehorst
Super Member
A huge improvement!
I liked the original,..but the lamp shade ?!?
Who thought that was a good combination?!?
I had a lamp I think had the same or similar base.
Totally different lamp design though. No shade.
That one had crystal tassels hanging down.
turnitup
No, the stereo won’t break the crystal...Oh CRAP!
Yes, the original wasn’t too bad without the lamp shade (or possibly being upgraded with a better one), but the individual brass components didn’t really match all that well on the lamp (note, the individual brass color tones on the parts), and I had a vision that I wanted to act on. Interestingly enough, this specific lamp species (the transparent multi-colored glass beasts from the 60s/70s) were built with very interchangeable parts. If you have spare parts, you can “LEGO build” to your hearts delight. A lot of these original table lamps weren’t even wired to light up the glass centerpieces, which is a crime. The more expensive ones that were, only used a small clear C7 bulb that didn’t do them justice (think passive night lights). The hanging swags on the other hand, typically used a 60 watt bulb (wired inside the glass centerpiece) to fully showcase the beauty of the hand blown creations. This changes everything…
While once plentiful in the wild for the taking, these “glass bulb” relics have become collectible and are becoming harder to come by. Prices are also getting stupid. Typically a room only has the space for a few table top lamps, but with the hanging swags, they look even cooler in odd number groupings (at least from my warped perspective). That’s why I tend to prefer the hanging beasts. They put off really cool radiant light that looks great with our mainstay stereo gear (and who doesn’t enjoy a little “Dark side of the moon” with some groovy lighting)!?!
Light-on brother!
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pumpkinman
Because I am the pumpkinking
Awesome repurposing very cool.
I cruise garage and estate sales for lamps and shades, especially shades since they are expensive and hard to find.
Yesterday at an estate sale I saw the shade and lamp. I was just going to get the shade but the only wanted $5 for both. So I took it home, hit it with a brush and some Bar Keepers Friend. And after about 25 minutes I had a lamp suitable for Mike and Carol Brady's house or a dentistry office around 1972.
Yesterday at an estate sale I saw the shade and lamp. I was just going to get the shade but the only wanted $5 for both. So I took it home, hit it with a brush and some Bar Keepers Friend. And after about 25 minutes I had a lamp suitable for Mike and Carol Brady's house or a dentistry office around 1972.
turnitup
No, the stereo won’t break the crystal...Oh CRAP!
Very cool lamp/shade. I really like the transition metal grid material used between the layers (amplifies its mid century design). It’d be cool if you could add an LED bulb inside the central lamp base, if it is hollow, where light would shine out through the grid (and further accentuate it). A nice subtle blue or green bulb, reflecting off the brass caps, would be awesome! Great find and save! Congrats!
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The grid between the layers is what caught my eye and convinced me to take it with the shade.
I far prefer lamps with a glass base with the small lights inside, not sure about a light in this one however.........might be interesting! This lamp is not my favorite that we have but it came out nice enough that I will keep it and probably rotate it in and out of our spare bedroom.
mrehorst
Super Member
Nice! What is it made of?
The stick in the middle is driftwood with natural hole in it top to bottom. I cut it in half length wise. I filled the inside with a string of LED lights and made the wire between the lights stick out the sides.
I are a mold and poured a 1/2” layer red tinted epoxy in first. Then I laid the stick with light in and filled the mold with clear epoxy.
I are a mold and poured a 1/2” layer red tinted epoxy in first. Then I laid the stick with light in and filled the mold with clear epoxy.
I had my eye on this lamp for several months on Facebook Marketplace and I finally made an offer two days ago. I took so long because our decor is mainly green and amber and browns. I finally decided I would get the lamp and maybe replace the gold coins with something blue. The lady I bought the lamp from lit up when I told her I needed a blue art piece oriented vertically. BAM, she whipped out this painting! Almost exactly what I was looking for.
tubelectron
Super Member
Another stone crystal lamp...
T
T
turnitup
No, the stereo won’t break the crystal...Oh CRAP!
LED bulbs are such a fun, new element to add to vintage lamps. They’re available in every color of the rainbow, cheap, put off literally no heat - and run on only 1 or 2 watts each. For the same electrical consumption of a historical 75 watt bulb, you can now run around 40 individual lamps for the same energy footprint! Collecting crazy lamps and displaying/using them is a new economical “hobby/thing” (but don’t tell anyone)!
Cool lamp, and such a great piece of art to accentuate it! Meant to be, and keep together in a new generation! Mid-century is SO cool!
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