Some delectable eye candy for our TGIF: Stunning New Old Stock vintage Moe lighting from Alia, owner of Etsy shop Morning Glory Moderne. Alia discovered all of these vintage lights — much of them in unopened boxes — along with many other vintage goodies like hardware, coffee makers, TV trays and more in the back of an old hardware shop. Cleaning up these vintage finds and listing them in her shop has been a labor of love for Alia, who is surely living every mid-century picker’s dream as she uncovers more fabulous finds within the stash on a daily basis.
Alia writes:
So, the hardware store is a small town hardware store that’s been owned for generations by the same family. I did an estate sale for these folks, got to be friends with them, and they asked me and my other friend to sell their inventory. We almost died when we went up there. I’m not exaggerating. Stacks of Moes, and just anything you can think of – NOS TV trays, coffee makers, dishes, tap lites, hardware from 1920s through the 70s, NOS lunch boxes — anything a hardware store sold back in the day. It’s dirty, there are mice, it’s under tons of other stuff, and it’s pretty much heaven for people like me. About 60% of these lights are in the original box, but opened. Most have instructions; some have the hardware. I couldn’t figure it out.
Update: This story is from 2014 — all the lighting long gone — but we’ll keep this up for our archives!
After talking to some of the older folks at the hardware store, what I’m pretty sure happened is that the father of the owner (who is in his 60s) bought out an old lighting store that went out of business. I’m pretty sure the opened ones were used for display. For “truth in advertising,” I’m not listing those as NOS, but saying they are display pieces. The others are certainly NOS and unopened.
Just look at the lines of this fun and playful pendant light — adorable, don’t you think?
The shape, the repetition, and the elegant design of this UFO style light make it a true work of art — what I wouldn’t give to have this hanging in my kitchen.
This ceiling lamp is amazing — I love the use of string in the design — pure perfection if you ask me.
This pole light is to-die-for. The mix of shiny metal and natural rope shades with accents of black is so classy and sophisticated.
Look at the profile of this wall sconce. I love the architectural qualities of these lights.
The crackle finish on this kitchen light is unlike anything I’ve seen before. Kind of a mix of shabby chic and midcentury modern.
This globe light looks to be coated with some sort of gravel art like substance. Talk about texture.
We’ve written about vintage Moe honeycomb lights before. What a lovely example this one is.
This wall sconce would look amazing in a midcentury bathroom with its chrome band around the base and sparkly edges.
Mega thanks to Alia for sharing these fabulous photos of her finds with us. If you’re interested in purchasing one of these beauties, all of these fabulous vintage lights and more are up for sale in Alia’s Etsy shop Morning Glory Moderne. Update: This story is from 2014 — all the lighting long gone — but we’ll keep this up for our archives!
Note: We’re not gettin’ any money or anything for posting this. We just love showing — and being permitted to forever-archive — these photos.
David Vershure says
I am the grandson of the head of sales for Moe Light for many years, and I have the privilege of having many of the fixtures. I am wondering if anyone could help me find a box that contains the Moe label. Thanks.
Alyssa D. says
I bought a light from the Etsy shop listed here a while back. Since we haven’t moved, it is still in the box!
The box is it rough shape, held together by tape, but it does have the logo on it.
mark w says
pam I was wondering if you could be of assistance on a peticular lamp I had purchased at woolworths I believe it was in 1964 or early 65.description hanging ball lamp its textured with a couple hundred pebbles like the kind in a fish tank.its almost like the one above the pebbles are yellow and the bottom part of the pebble is orange pretty sure its plastic there is a long pullchain that goes through the ball.and at the end of the pullchain theres a black ball knob.i know that’s not much to go on .hopefully you could answer that question.thanks pam.if you could post it on this page id appreciate it email isn’t functioning.
Lydia says
I AM JUST HOPING SOMEONE CAN POINT ME TO RIGHT DIRECTION. I AM FIXING UP MY 1967 KITCHEN. THERE WAS A LIGHT FIXTURE THAT HAS A DEEP CIRCULAR HOLE, WITH THE SET UP FOR THE BULB. THERE IS A CIRCULAR SILVER INSERT HELD WITH LIKE THREE SMALL SPRINGS. I CAN NOT EVEN VISUALIZE WHAT WAS THERE. I AM JUST LOST ON THIS. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT KIND OF FIXTURE WAS THERE OR WHAT I CAN DO WITH IT TO MAKE IT FIT IN. I AM DOING ALL MY CABINETS PINK AND WHITE ETC. IF I COULD JUST SEE SOME KIND OF PICTURE OF WHAT COULD GO THERE.
KimberJ says
Thanks so much Pam! Your article led me to Alia’s Etsy site. I bought the light with the yellow cording on it for my entry way. We live fairly near each other so I’m going to show her the other areas in my home that need vintage lighting. She has more stock that isn’t opened or listed so everyone should keep checking back 🙂
Thanks Again Pam!
pam kueber says
I loved that one!!!!! Congrats!
Scott says
OUCH. Wish I’d seen this a little earlier, most of the goodies are gone now. The seller does have a nice selection of the mid 1950s aluminum storm door letters, but unfortunately no “B” left. Just not my day. 🙂
Joe Felice says
I especially like the honeycomb light when on. And I wish I still had one of the several pole lamps we used to have back in the day.
Tim K says
What a GREAT find… Pole lamps and pull downs are so Cool !!!!!!!!!!!!
Mary Baum says
As we were leaving mom’s house for the last time in 1997 my Aunt Shirley asked, “Did you take the kitchen light? It’s a Moe.” I didn’t know what a Moe was but I took it. It’s in my dinning room, very cool.
pam kueber says
🙂
Laurie Louise says
Thank you, thank you, thank you! The pole lights should be perfect on our soon-to-be restored screened porch. And if they’re not, I’m sure they’ll be perfect somewhere! Also enjoyed walking down memory lane…no kitchen is complete without an avocado coffee urn!
Kristy says
We have all Moe lighting in our 1964 home- except for the dining area which was replaced by the former owners sometime in the 90’s- I wish I knew what was originally there!
We have two of the globe lights with the “gravel” texture in our stairway and entryway. One is white and one is orange. The gravel is really like little beads of plastic all over the outside. They are fabulous! When I was looking at houses online I got to the second picture of the inside of the house and it featured these lights – I gasped out loud and knew that the house had to be mine!
mark w says
would anyone know what kind of lamp that yellow one is with the pebbles or gravel.
pam kueber says
see our story on acrylic globe lights now available. Lighting stories all archived in Decorate / Lighting