Vintage table lamps are one of the most gratifying vintage collectibles that you can acquire: They are abundant, which means prices can be affordable… they are usually in great shape… you can put a pair in just about every room, so you get to shop a lot… they deliver a double — base and shade — bang-for-the-buck… and, when you get them into the room, they make a huge decorative statement, all retro blingy like. Let there be light — and let there be vintage table lamps. Above: Mystery reader uploaded this last week, said they found the base for $9 at Goodwill, and bought the shade from Moonshine. See all 366 lamps! –>
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Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:
Ruth says
Oh my. I always say I have a lamp fetish. These are fantastic. I can’t even decide which ones I like best, they are all great. Thanks everybody for sharing.
Deb says
I love Rob and Monica’s telephone/clock lamp. I once saw a green one like it in a store. I believe there was also a cigarette lighter in the phone’s receiver!
LarsErik says
Oh Pam, now you’ve done it! Be careful what you ask for. I suspect many of us have secret (or not-so-secret) obsessions with lamps. I’ve uploaded some of my favorites from around our house… and I am absolutely green with envy at the wonderful images I’m seeing from other readers! I am hard-pressed to pick out a favorite or two… can’t I just have them ALL?!
pam kueber says
yes, this is going to be a record-breaking uploader!
Diane in CO says
Pam, these wonderful lamps need to be made into a coffee table book! Does anything similar exist now? This is astonishing. Wow!
pam kueber says
…and the night is young!
lynda says
A book is a great idea–lamps though the ages. I also thought a museum just for lamps might be interesting. I had no idea how many interesting and quirky lamps there are out in the world!
Diane in CO says
…Just not at your local Lamps Plus store. 🙂
Janet in CT says
LarsErik, I thought YOUR lamps were to die for! Those dancer lamps and the Buck Rogers lamp – incredible! And Kelly’s lamp (and those drapes and pictures on the wall), the Japanese lamps with the pagoda roof shades – all just fascinating! And I have almost nothing to contribute as none of this fits in my forties cape! I am so glad so many have posted photos of theirs that I can enjoy!
LarsErik says
Oh, thanks Janet, you are too sweet! I’m glad you like our collection of figural lights. Once I started taking photos of our lamps, I realized I have a serious addiction (there are even more I could have posted). But as I looked through the photos other readers have posted… I realize there are many more I need!! There is just something so magical about lamps…
Rick says
Need to get all my thoughts in one post, but yes, agree that many of the lampshades are just as fantastic as the lamps!
Janet in CT says
Oh, what fascinating lamps! Like TammyCA, mine are more the milkglass type or boudoir ones that are not really retro, but more the forties type. I do have a question to all of you with the fascinating lampshades that I can’t even think of the name for. Did you all find these lamps with the original lampshades or did you have the made? I have seen some of these lamps at flea markets but often the shades are disgustingly yellowed by cigarette smoke. So you can tell right away if these lamps belonged to non-smokers. They all look just fabulous though and I wish my house wasn’t a forties cape!
tammyCA says
I would love your ’40s Cape. I am most drawn to the homey ’40s, but I love several eras & styles (from ’30s to early ’60s), which is great that I can see everyone’s vintage homes here & on other blogs. Now I would love to see/research the lamps and furniture I grew up with…I’ve never seen it since…a very sturdy blue nubby sofa with built-in white formica? arm rests (it was great to put your drinks on)…black end tables with a “linen formica”? that was three-tiered…and matching sleek black lamps. We also had the Danish chairs (which were not comfortable). I’m just amazed that the furniture and objects we had back then are so popular & $$ now! Unfortunately, all of it is gone.
Anyway, I am diggin’ the individual personality of each lamp…some look like they are gonna blast off, some like musical instruments, some like stylized plant & animal life…so cool.
Rick says
ps TY Pam for reposting my parquet ? wood lamp. Paid $23. One of two; I passed on the other; the base was missing.
Rick says
Only Saturday morning and not even light, but wow; all the wild lighting shown here!
tammyCA says
Oh, gosh so many fabulous lamps! So sweet that Nadine has her family lamp in a photo when she was a baby…I wish I had something from the family home back then.
I am a vintage lamp kook but mine aren’t sculptural or special…most (I counted 15!) are white milk glass or hand painted boudoir lamps and stored in cabinets ‘cuz lamps don’t mix with kids and dogs. 🙁
That tension light with the 3 color cones…ah, I always wanted one…it brings back happy memories of playing in my friend’s basement where they had one set up next to a large bamboo roller shade alongside the staircase. In this little nook was the record player, old records, a ’50s dinette table & chairs…it always felt like we were in some exotic nightclub! 🙂
TappanTrailerTami says
Oh MY! I’m in some serious lamp envy! Lamps and lighting is a disease. While I was perusing all this luscious lamp-ness, I made a list of all the lamps I own. Wow, was THAT a mistake. Must check into lamp rehab soon. 41 lamps is what I came up with. This is everything from floor lamps, hanging lamps, table lamps, accent lamps, vanity lamps, TV lamps, mantle lamps, ……ugh! I need help.
Beyond my collection – Thanks Pam for uploading my great percolator lamp and my Saturn ring lamp!
Eartha Kitsch: I’m not a huge fan of figural lamps in general, but your pair are truly outstanding in every way – and the shades are to-die-for!
Pia – wow, a Three Mile Island lamp! Never knew they made such a thing, but it sure is cool.
2 Different Stores, 3 Great Lamps poster: Those are an awesome set….and yes, I absolutely still ADORE your floor lamp with the clock which I can see in the background 🙂
John & Vanessa in Sunnyvale – Those are some way over the top cool lamps, and is that an area rug or wall to wall carpet underneath of them and is it vintage to the house, or something you found new (where???) ? I love that pattern! Also if you ever want to go thrifting, I live not too far from Sunnyvale by Great America. You can email me at shinysideup99 AT yahoodotcom (Chutti – if you read this, free to email me also, would love to catch up with you!)
Thanks everyone for sharing all your awesome lamps and to Pam for making it possible!!!
Vanessa says
Hey Tami! Thanks for the shout out…To answer your question, the carpet/rug you see in the picture is a large piece of carpet that acts as an area rug. It is vintage, probably from the late 40’s, possibly early 50’s. I had an estate sale business for a few years in the Bay Area and it came out of a bedroom at the first estate I ever did (why it didn’t sell at the sale is beyond me!) The house belonged to the very first mayor of San Bruno and his wife was an interior decorator so I’m sure it was she who chose it for the room!
My husband John and I live right near Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, so you’re not too far from us. Thanks for the thrifting invite-maybe after the holidays calm down I could take you up on that! 🙂
Barb S. says
Pia, those lamps of yours are making me woozy… I’m going to start shopping in Pittsburgh!