I just scored a 1968 Moe Lighting catalog, and it is 102 pages of sheer beauty. Peoples: If you are not keeping your eyes open and wallets stocked with just a little extra something for the most fabuloso vintage lighting that you can get your hands on, well, then, I feel bad. Because there is probably no feature that can have the biggest impact on the sparkly-ness of a home than lighting. I myself am guilty: The light in my dining room is a piece of inexpensive whatever that we hung in there when we first bought the house 10 years ago. I am ashamed of myself. This is going on The List tout suit. Today, from my 1968 catalog: Moe’s complete Honeycomb line, including the new-for-’68 cranberry-pink … and 5 rooms shots sure to make you smile bright as a tangerine-gold pendant.
I do not know when Moe introduced this style — perhaps reader Greg can tell us, I first saw this lighting in his Los Angeles house:
Here’s how the catalog describes the line:
Vivid honeycomb … Moe Light’s exclusive expression of creative lighting at its finest.
The photo above: From a fantastic time capsule house first chronicled on Vintage Las Vegas. I also archived the image in my vintage lighting slide show.
In 1968, the catalog says, the Cranberry-pink was introduced. The blue is called “Emerald-blue”. The gold: Tangerine-gold.
Here’s the room shot — a hallway, it appears. It’s … interesting … to see this light paired with rustic furniture, wall paneling, and look: the door has wrought iron. I think we are seeing seeds of the Mediterranean Casa de la Torquemada look. Not a scene in which we might expect to see this thoroughly modern light — just goes to show that they mixed it up plenty back in the day. Or else, the Moe interior designers were doing magic mushrooms. 1968 and all.
Meanwhile, back in suburbia on the planet Earth, this is the Mrs.’ blue sewing room. Yes, this room would tempt even me to give it all up for a band of gold. There’s a lot going on, so don’t lose the lights: There’s a blue honeycomb pull-down in the foreground, and honeycomb-trimmed can lights in the ceiling near the stairs. The catalog says:
Every homemaker’s dream… the woman’s studio … smartly designed and accented with emerald-blue honeycomb lighting styles.
You gotta love this. Does anyone recognize the artwork?
These photos are always such a gas: Look closely, the bed is set into a nook; the nook is upholstered in the same fabric as the bedspread. There also is a light bar back there.
The wall sconces are particularly snappy, don’t you think?
The pendants, too. And these are so NOW. I can imagine many a lighting company introducing them today — with fanfare like they were their idea.
These “celing tracks” are wicked cool. They “let you move fixtures up to six feet.” You could use them like a swag, or there was hardware included to hard wire them.
Remember: I have been told that pull down lighting is no longer to code; consult with a professional, please. And: Vintage lighting should be rewired.
Now here’s some 70s going on. These lights are insane. Luv.
There are a bunch of other drop-dead gorgeous lights in my 1968 catalog. I’ll try to get them up soon. But you know me. Always distracted by the next little pretty.
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Thomas says
Ha! You have a picture of ours!!! Wonderful seeing the nine on your page … we live in the Vegas “time capsule” home. Thanks for the post!
pam kueber says
Congratulations!!!!!
Doug says
Hello-
I have the EXACT same emerald-blue (M-3010-29) pull down MOE lamp over my kitchen table. I have a ranch house, construction was completed in June of 1964 and is mostly original all throughout, but I can’t say for sure if the Moe light is part of the original construction. One thing I love about this particular lamp is that it lights up the entire ceiling a with a glowing teal color which looks really impressive at night. The other fixtures in this catalog are also great to see! Thanks for sharing them.
Paul says
I just scored a retractable Moe UFO in tangerine gold. This was from the estate of Rory Calhoun (50s actor/singer). It needs some rewiring but will be very nice in no time. The best part, my wife absolutely hates it! Hmmmm, where in the house will I put it?
Denise says
Amazing lighting! Love the can lights. Really snazzy.
jack says
I have the larger pendant in orange. I got it on eBay, back when there were only a few thousand people on the site. I paid $5 for it. It’s so far hung in three different homes, and has brightened up every one of them. Three 25w amber bulbs and a dimmer, and it’s the perfect anchor for any retro lighting scheme.
pam kueber says
oooh good times!
Lisa says
We have a Moe retractible light. The spring is weak and does not hold the light up.
Trying to find out how to fix it.
Pam Kueber says
Lisa, consult with a properly licensed professional. Note: I have been told that these are no longer to code – again, get with a pro to assess what you are have and how to handle.
Jimmy says
Hi, is the UFO pull down lamp shade glass in the orange and blue colors? Or is it plastic? Thanks,
Jimmy
Pam Kueber says
It is some sort of plastic, I believe.
Jon says
Could the light be a spun fiber glaaa
Kathi Dellmann says
I have a honeycomb hanging lamp in a harvest gold color with little sparkly plastic pieces in the honeycombs. The style is slightly different than those in the ’68 catalog. I can’t seem to find anything on this particular style. Is it Moe or a knock off? any help would be appreciated.
Pam Kueber says
Hi Kathi, Hard to say, there were so many makers… sounds fun!