This week’s fresh to market vintage features some excellent vintage lamps destined to be focal points in any room. We are huge fans of vintage lighting, nothing adds more character to your decor. There is nothing bland or ordinary about them, which certainly can’t be said of lamps from the big box stores that all reflect whatever the current trend is.
Like most worthwhile things, using vintage lamps may take a little extra work. They may need their wiring updated. We’ve been told it’s easy to do, but we have an antique dealer who rewires, so we gladly shift the job to him. How do you know if the lamp needs rewiring? Look at age of the plug and the pliability of the cord. When in doubt, rewire. And you will likely need to find shades. Unless you have access to a good shade shop locally, you will have to make this an online quest.
But you will never regret the work. We have at least a dozen vintage lamps, some that came down through the family, some that were thrifted, and we love them more than anything we could get at the quick-hit-of-style big box.
If you’re not in the mood for lighting, this week’s fresh to market vintage also has a Victorian tumbler and some elves, one of which looks to be a saucy imp.
Vintage MCM Boomerang Lamps
I don’t usually sell lamps, but I could not pass these by! The cool weather will bring us inside soon and many of us will brighten our nest with some new-to-us vintage decor. The cords and plug on these are the originals. Buyers should expect to replace them and perhaps even the bulb socket to render them safer to use. I saw online fabulous gold electrical cord and plugs to snazz them up, or go old school with new brown cord and plugs. They are worth taking to the lamp shop for your own peace of mind. Also go to a great lampshade store or maker to fit them out with the perfect for you lampshades. We did just that with a pair of newer lamps and I believe a post on just that will be coming soon to VU!
MCM Lamps, $124.99
-Mary Ellen, AuntHattiesAttic
Mid-Century Adjustable Desk Lamp
This lamp has been lovingly stored by an elderly friend for many years. So many, in fact, she doesn’t remember its origin. Handmade and beautifully styled, it’s very much a one-off. This week she asked me to list it on eBay. So if this interesting bit of history catches your eye, you can find it there. Made of beautiful hardwood with a clay shade, it adjusts up or down and would look wonderful in an MCM office.
Adjustable Desk Lamp, $75 starting bid
–Pam, Vintage Renude
Antique Victorian Painted Glass Tumbler
I’m a big fan of hand-painted glass, in particular small tumblers like this one that date to the Victorian era. I get a kick out of thinking about a group of socialites having a painting party in the parlor, followed by cocktails when the decorative work is done. If you’re interested in what they served back in the late 1800s, take a peek at “How to Mix Drinks: Victorian Style“.
Blue Floral Painted Tumbler, $45
–Linda, Selective Salvage
Kneehugger Elves for Crafting
These little kneehugger escapees from the Island of Misfit Toys aren’t as bright and shiny as they used to be. They’re faded, a little scuffed and somewhat tatty…but they are definitely not sad. Each one would be a great addition to a craft project like a wreath or vignette.
Except maybe the one on the left. Look at the side eye he is giving his compatriots. He has impish elvish behavior on his mind and should be contained under a glass dome to keep him from licking the icing off the Christmas cookies or mixing up the tags on the gifts under the tree.
Four Craftworthy Kneehugger Elves, $39.
–Laurie, NextStage Vintage
We’ve never seen anything like the pottery and wood lamp Pam is showcasing this week. It must be a one-of-a-kind studio piece and it is going to make a lucky buyer very happy.
While we are not always lucky enough to have something that unique for fresh to market vintage, we hope we always have something interesting. If you subscribe, you’ll never miss a post. You get one email a week with links to the past week’s stories. Simple and easy and, as always, spam-free.
If the boomerang lamps set your heart aflutter, you might like our 10 Decades of Vintage Color and Design: the 1950s post.
1 comment
I love the chartreuse lamps, like would be used on nightstands or on a mcm dresser . My friends at Lead East, a great annual 50’s event in Parsippany, N.J. would love them! I like the Victorian painted glass, and am surprised that they had “Sip and Paint parties” like we do now! My great- grandmother had a ruby mug with her name painted on it!