Does this look vintage?

[poetman]

Pretty self-explanatory:

Do you all think this lamp is a good vintage investment?

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x314/Poetmandrums/lamp.jpg

Thanks

 

[poetman]

30 views, no replies? Any thoughts?

 

[MPicciotto]

Any more pictures. From the one picture it does look vintage. But I'd have to see better pictures to tell you more.

Matt

 

[Lefty]

Ditto.

 

[Paisley]

If it's an investment, can you sell it for a lot more than the cost?

If it's for your enjoyment, do you need a lamp? Can you afford this one? Does it go with your decor?

 

[Mike in Seattle]

I've seen very similar, if not the same, in the few years at Fry's, Costco & other...hmmm...not exactly lower-end but definitely not higher-end retailers. The knobs a tip-off. It's usually a brass-colored plastic or aluminum and covering a smaller spindle to turn to adjust the level of the light. Vintage (assuming you mean 30s-40s) would be on-off, not adjustable. Rheostats weren't that small nor cheap in the 30s & 40s.

Something actual vintage (from the 30s or 40s) would have a cloth cord and would most likely show some sign of age - tarnishing, perhaps a scratch or two, perhaps a little ding, and not as much sheen to the finish.

Is it a good investment? If it's a mass-produced modern reproductiond, probably not. But if you really like it, it's a good price and you can use it (as others have said), it's your call. Sometimes you buy something because you like it...if it increases in value, so much the better.

 

[dhermann1]

I recently bought a somewhat similar definitely vintage desk lamp on Ebay for about $20. It's has a few little scratches and dings, but still has a nice 40's look. There was a very similar one on a fancy schmancy site for about $800. It was clearly antique quality. My $20 lamp is at least 90% as nice (to me) as the fancy one. My point, if you like it, and it evokes a vintage aesthetic to you, buy it. But don't "invest" in it as something that you're sure will go up in value. I think the only good investment of that sort nowadays is plain old gold.

 

[poetman]

Thanks All. That helps. I saw the lamp--it is inexpensive, but a modern mass produced object--not really what I'm after. I'm still hunting for an affordable vintage table lamp. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[BinkieBaumont]

I had a pair of those lamps, I got rid of them pretty fast they do not give off a flattering light, they cast horrible shadows around the room I much prefer uplights, they give off a flattering glow all around the room. mine have dimmers on them too.

 

[KY Gentleman]

Thanks All. That helps. I saw the lamp--it is inexpensive, but a modern mass produced object--not really what I'm after. I'm still hunting for an affordable vintage table lamp. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

I don't know if you live in a town with a "Kirklands" store but I recently bought a nice vintage-looking lamp there. They had quite a display of different lamp choices. If not Kirklands try a Pier One store.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Chrome would look nicer or, more deco in my opinion. That polished brass looks rather contemporary... if it was old brass; it would have a tad of a patina about it. I like my antiques to have a little patina... shows age and that it's the real deal. Others prefer to have their antiques restored to be showroom... my self, not so much.

I'd hold out for another lamp that may be actual period... since that style has come up in popularity many times, it’s hard to tell really how old it is… the photo is poor in quality so, if you can get higher quality photos, then maybe we can have at it.

Happy hunting!

 

[Tomasso]

they cast horrible shadows around the room.

One man's horrible is another man's wonderful.



Seriously, they have their place in the scheme of things. You can't just dismiss them out of hand.

 

[Forgotten Man]

I love indirect lighting... that's most of what I have in my house... period fixtures of course.

I have a number of desk lamps from the 20s to the 30s and most of them are metal shades... I get a most period atmosphere in my lighting in my home that way.

 

[MPicciotto]

If shopping for a vintage lamp it's a good idea to have some brands in mind. For the late forties forward I prefer the 'Dazor" brand. They make GREAT drafting table lamps. I've found two or three at yard sales for a couple of bucks and sold some on eBay for many times that. But Dazor also made other types of lamps with very 'modern' looks to them. For a little while I owned a low floor lamp that would be good for reading by in a chair. It sort of looked like the Starship Enterprise but was most certainly not any newer then the 1960's. It did have a knob like the one in the picture but rotating nob only turned the bulb on and off. It was not a rheostat. For a dimmer, I have a period one of them too It screws into the bulb socket then the bulb screws into it, it has two chains that you either pull one to make it brighter or the other to make it dimmer, the chains rotate the assembly so the whole thing is basically the rheostat.

Matt

 

[Paisley]

I love indirect lighting... that's most of what I have in my house... period fixtures of course.

I have a number of desk lamps from the 20s to the 30s and most of them are metal shades... I get a most period atmosphere in my lighting in my home that way.

I agree about indirect lighting. The ceiling fan in my living room has spotlights. They show every flaw in everything they shine on and they're so bright they're painful to look at. I've tried pointing them upward, but the fan causes bizarre shadow and light patterns, like driving through a forest. I never turn them on.

 

[PuLpO]

it looks of course!