Put a Bird on it? Sure. But let’s throw a big net over another design mega trend today — one with classic vintage-upcycling roots: Put A Bulb In It. A two-day miniseries. Today: 24 pendant lights made by repurposing and upcycling vintage treasures, which you can buy online. So let’s get going! Above: The humble Ball Jar pendant light, which seems to have started this entire megatrend. The Ball Jar pendant, above, is from Barnlight Electric $149. Disclosure: Barnlight Electric is a current advertiser, but this feature isn’t a part of deal or anything. The reason I like this light, in particular, is because it features an authentic vintage Ball Jar (which I think is important.) Readers, as you are looking through all of these lights shown, please remember that you often do get what you pay for — such as porcelain sockets, cloth-covered cords — good solid lighting.
Poke around at Barnlight Electric some more,and you see these vintage acetylene tank tops repurposed into lighting, $149. They even have them in orange. 🙂 Note: Barnlight Electric is having a 10% off storewide sale right now – enter Spring11 on checkout.
These are sa-weet! Pendant lighting made from old railroad insulators. Back in the late 60s and early 70s, we used these as planters — we flipped them the other way, strung them in macrame, and added spider plants. What a flash from my past! Vintage railroad insulator pendants from RailroadWare, $149. Also available via Remodelista, where I first saw them.
Antique Key Plate pendant, from Napa Style, $599 (more styles available). Love the colors and the keyholes!
Here is another take on the insulator pendant, from Napa Style, $299.
Are you having fun yet? This one might be my favorite so far, because I fed my share of chickens growing up: Pendant light made from a vintage chicken feeder, from Napa Style, $399. That’s some chicken scratch! That Napa Style likes their upcycled, repurposed vintage, that’s for sure.
Add some baubles and a pendant can easily become a chandelier. (Though, I have left “chandeliers made from upcycled vintage treasures for another day.) This Eat Drink Be Merry Chandelier by Jose Esteves for Anthropologie turns vintage spoons and forks into a $4,800 work of art.
Heading over the etsy.com, which I suspect will be a bonanza, I immediately am presented with this pendant light made from a vintage jello mold, just $35, from BootsNGus.
Readers, also note: Please also take care not to overload the wattage of any pendant lighting — depending on where you buy an upcycled pendant light from, you might want to have it doublechecked with a local lighting expert to make sure of its wiring and that you are not overloading it.
Pretty pretty pretty. Different vases and such, matched with vintage receptors or caps or whatever you call the things that hold them— love the mashup! Each of these is $48 from BootsnGus.
More pretty pendant lights — grouped, $100 — from BootsnGus. BnG, who is based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, sure is workin’ this concept! $100.
You got your pendant light made from a blender, $32 also from da boots. haha
BootsNGus pendant light made from ceramic planter.
Pendant light made from cracker tins, several styles available, $55 from metalight on etsy.com.
Colander pendant from metalight, $150. (Colandar discorama.)
Pendant light made from oil funnel, $68.95 from PaddyRidge on etsy.com.
Pendant light from pizza shaker, $35 from WashburnArt, etsy.
Pendants made from vintage teacups, $48 each, from TheSalvagedTeaParty, etsy.
Back to fancy artists with their own websites. Pendant light made from a vintage egg basket. Drats, I sold a vintage egg basket at my garage sale last summer. What was I thinking? NEVER let anything leave the house! Hoard everything vintage, don’t let those neat-freaks dissuade you! $125 from Junkyard Lighting.
Same idea, same company as above, currently sold out. Haha, I am pretty sure I still have my metal basket that looks like this. They will pry it from my cold, dead hands.
Adorable beyond adorable: Pendant lights upcycled from vintage kitchen canisters by Rodney Allen Trice / The Other Man’s Treasures. First spotted on Simply Stated.
Died and gone to heaven. That Rodney Allen Trice is a genius. This pendant made out of a vintage Christma tree holder is just the best. It looks from the website like all work is custom.
Ooooh, I love this, too: Vintage doilies sewn together to create a pendant light, $850 by ReMadeUSA by Shannon South.
Now these are pretty fantastic: Lead crystal decanters turned into pendant lights. They are by Lee Broom, I can’t see a price. Update: A commenter said $230.
Phew. This one took me hourz. Just as I did with my megapost last week, on — 19 mid century and modern sofas — I am looking to build the definitive list of pendant lights upcycled from vintage treasures. If you spot any more artisans or retailers, will you let me know? Put a bulb on it!
The Atomic Mom says
All of those are so creative and cute. I’m always amazed at what people can think up. I like that jello-mold lamp for sure!
Jenny says
I love the ones made from canisters and the Tupperware jello mold! So, so, so cute!
kate mckinnon says
This is one of my all-time favorite posts! I love lighting and you found some great pieces. It’s hard to choose a favorite- I loved the Tupperware lid still on the jello mold (how else would you change the bulbs?) and the vintage Christmas tree holder, clustered with tree bulbs. The vintage key plate pendant, though, might be my #1.
I like the idea of pairing these posts with “Show us yours” followups, like the sofas. Wouldn’t we love to see everyone’s fabulous pendant lights?
(Next- table lamps!!!!!)
Elaine says
Love those! I am right down the street from Barnlight in my winter haven, MUST check their vintage redo selections.
Love the Railroadware insulator pendants. Would you believe, just gave my insulator collection to a cousin to enhance his much bigger collection? No fooling, as soon as it leaves the house, a perfect use pops up.
And when I saw the title of this segment, I immediately thought of colander lights, how beautiful that one is. I wonder if we could make one for a ceiling fan? Thinking, thinking…..
Chelsea says
this is awesome because a lot of them appear to be plug-in. being in a rental with little overhead lighting sucks, but this might be my cure!!
clampers says
I really like the jello mold lamp…from “da boots” HA!
Amy says
I loved that one, too! (I noticed they even kept the tupperware lid on it.)
Marty says
OK, you guys are weird. The jello-mold pendant is ugly! But I’m drooling over all the others! Here’s my own upcycled pendant lighting from things found at Habitat for Humanity thrift store: http://www.diypics.com/upcycle-a-pendant-lighting-fixture/ Cost: about $9
pam kueber says
Hi Marty, I take that as a compliment. Let you freak flag fly!
Marty says
Amen, sista!
Kerry McCall says
love the one you made! and I have all those things laying around my house which is currently undergoing some reno. think I will try making one of those.
Patty says
I think hose rail insulators were also used up on telephone or light poles. I just came across another one in my garage…I thought I had gotton rid of all of them.
Jan Rader says
Sometimes the old insulators are also hanging up on the attic wall in you house, where the electricity used to come in!
Patty says
I’ve seen people making yard / garden ornaments out of dishes and vases fashioned into “flowers.” They put them on sticks. I’ve also see some bird feeders made the same way. If you cruise Etsy you should be able to find some.
I’ve also seen old metal canisters and coffee pots made into bases for lamps. Some of the canisters look better on the counter, to me, though. Although that light was pretty creative.
BungalowBILL says
Very interesting post. Some look like they can be very nice in a home setting, Others might look better in a picture. Surely makes you think outside the box. (You forgot the cheese grater lights from That 70’s Show though)
Jana says
WOW! These are amazing! What a tribute to the inspiration and ingenuity of the American spirit. My favorites are the cracker tin light and the kitchen canisters. Thanks for your inspiration in finding these!