NEW LAMPS

They're mine...

Here is a close up of the gorgeous deep cerulean blue of the opaline glass:

Opaline glass has always been very desirable, especially the colored pieces. This beautiful opaque glass was first developed in France and reached its height of popularity in the late 19th century. Although these vases (now lamps) were created in the mid-20th c., their desirability is increasing as opaline glass is no longer made. The French method of creating opaline glass involved blowing powdered lead into the molten glass which created the desirable opacity. However, this process was highly toxic to the glass workers and its manufacture is now prohibited. These lamps were very pricey and I was not careful enough during preview and missed a restoration to the opaline base at the back of one of the lamps.....I HATE IT WHEN I DO THIS...I get absorbed in the beauty of an object and neglect my homework. Marcos (glass restorer) will pick up the lamp next week--and there goes my profit margin. The repair will be almost invisible, but I will still disclose its existence and consequently the price point will be lower.

.......AND I also brought home these guys.

  

Here is a detail shot

   

These beauties are circa 1970-80's Frederick Cooper solid brass lamps with a Chinese porcelain-inspired form. Note the beautiful ribbed brass lidded jar form and the custom rosewood base. I went on the Frederick Cooper website to check for current large solid brass lamps....and there weren't any! The price of brass and copper has risen to the point where it is almost prohibitive to create large purely decorative objects with solid metals. And these lamps are big guys--they measure 23" to the top of the socket, but they also have a large girth and highly detailed molded brass lids.....all marks of exceptional metal work. I've paired the lamps with black linen shades that are lined with gold paper--not bad. They would be great with Milo Baughman  (or a contemporary) furnishings or even with period furniture as their form references antiques Chinese porcelain.

As long as we are discussing lamps....

   

   

  

I bought this pair of early twentieth century theater lamps a couple of months ago. They have been rewired for domestic use...I'd love to see them sitting on some one's library shelf. Both of these spots have a heavy and well-earned patina and lots of character. Nothing like a little counterpoint in my lamp inventory.

In my opinion, lamps are an extremely important focal point in any room. Their form, color and placement need to be considered at the start of a project, not as simply an end-of-project add on. It is possible to have a great lamp and to ruin it, or at least mask its character, by using an inappropriate or wrong-sized shade. I've been know to return shades 3 or 4 times before finding the "just perfect" shade. Because lamp shade styles (just like decorative pillows) go in and out of fashion, a great way to update a room is to change out the lamp shades.

I'm loving the extra hour of daylight--Jones gets more park time and my creativity level goes way up.

Thanks for visiting. Happy Spring.

Mary & Jones (& Cole)