Up With Lighting

It takes two to start a collection, so it's official. I'm now collecting vintage TV lamps, those heavy — some say "hideous" — 1950s ceramic behemoths that used to sit on top of TV sets back when televisions were usually encased in large pieces of wooden furniture.

Egyptian Queen (Nefertari, perhaps?) TV lamp.

The Egyptian Queen is a bit unusual. I haven't even seen this one on eBay. The most common ones I've seen are Black Panthers (one of my grandfathers had one on top of his TV for many years), White Swans, Covered Wagons, Ducks, Owls, Siamese Cats, and nonfigural shapes like the second TV lamp in my collection.

Non-figural "Leaf" TV lamp.

So, you ask, who would ever want to collect TV lamps?

Me.

I do appreciate their sculptural features, and, in the case of the "Leaf" lamp, it adds a nice bit of mood lighting for a semi-dark spot in my nighttime kitchen. So, why not?

To continue the lighting theme, I also found a vintage Sunbeam alarm clock at the same local antique shop recently.

Vintage ceramic TV lamp and Sunbeam alarm clock.

The brown and orange hues definitely date the clock from the 1970s, and the alarm still works!

My other fun find at the same CT antique shop, was this lemonade pitcher and pair of glasses, just in time for summertime picnics.

Vintage lemonade pitcher and glasses.

I'm hoping at some point I can find matching glasses for the pitcher, assuming they exist.

But, the real showstopper from my antiquing day — alas, it wouldn't fit in my Honda Civic — was this FABULOUS mid-century sectional with built-in end tables!

Vintage tufted sectional. Note vintage ash tray on built-in side table.

Also love the globe tree lamp.
For this setting, I'd definitely replace the coffee table with a more organic Naguchi one,
and change the rug to something shag-a-delic.

Tufting close-up. Great colors!

I have a feeling this piece held court in some grand lady's large, posh apartment. It may have been a custom-made piece, and it looks as though people rarely sat on it. Maybe it was covered with clear plastic a la My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I'm grateful it doesn't have a clashing, crocheted throw and pillows covering the back.

Happy Vintage Dreams, Darlings!