George Nelson Saucer Lamp. Check!

I've had a George Nelson saucer lamp on my wish list for a very long time.  Don't they just scream mid century modern?  Well, as many things go, if you're patient, your number will eventually come up.  I used to think "Oh, I'll never find that" but I've been proven wrong.  Patience and persistence people!  It works. 

A few weeks back I randomly typed in "bubble lamp" in Craigslist Los Angeles and up popped a new listing for "large saucer lamp, $75".   I remained pessimistic, as I've missed out on these lamps before, but this time I guess it was my turn to be the lucky one. I got it!  

It was a dirty mess when I picked it up but still well worth $75. I did some research on how I could clean it and found a helpful post on Flickr.  While I don't mind some things in their found condition this was pretty dirty, sticky and dusty. 

Check out my cleaning process below > and definitely check out the link because he has some helpful tips i.e., do this in the bath tub if you can! 

Above is the lamp in its found condition.Though you can't really tell in these photos, there is a yellowish, sticky film and a thick layer of dust on top.

Here you can really see how dirty the lamp was.  The lighter side has been cleaned.  

I poured TSP directly onto the lamp a capful at a time, let it sit for approximately 2 minutes, then rinsed with warm water.  The first photo shows the lamp after one round.  I did the same process again but lightly rubbed the lamp with a wet sponge the second time.  The second photo shows how much lighter it got after the second cleaning.   Lastly, I blotted the treated areas lightly with a towel and let air dry.

Here is the lamp cleaned up and hung in my dining area.  There are some yellow spots I could not get out on the bottom, though I didn't scrub too hard in an attempt to do so for fear of damaging the lamp.  They might have come out with a little more effort but hey, it's an old lamp. I don't mind the little history it shows.  The top is a like-new crisp white.  

If you decide to try this on your George Nelson lamp, I found my TSP substitute at both Lowe's and Home Depot. I bought one small bottle at Lowe's then ran out quickly and went to Home Depot for a second bottle. Invest in the larger bottle, you'll need more than you think to clean your lamp.  Good luck! 

Mid Century Modern Starburst Lamp

What's a very pregnant girl to do but lay around (uncomfortable) and wait for baby to come?  Oh yes, shop for lamps.  Sure, why not feed my lamp addiction?

Well, I picked up this beauty locally on Ebay with plans to put it in my shop. Buuuuuut, yep you guessed it; I got it home and could not part with it.  I refinished the wood and scrubbed the brass.    Isn't it pretty? I just love it.  It had to go front and center on my Brasilia piece in the entry way.

I scored this wall hanging lamp on Etsy a couple of months back. I'd been looking for a wall mounted mid century light for some time.  They are few and far between and typically very expensive. This was a great score!  

aaaaand, I picked this one up from Etsy to replace the sort of beat up lamp I had on my side table.  Listen to me justify the lamp purchases.... ha ha

and, yep, still going, I actually picked up another lamp from Ebay but I don't know if I'm keeping it.  It was purchased just before I found the above lamp on Etsy, which I like much better.

Hey, told you I had a lamp addiction! 

Happy New Year.

The Mother Ship Has Landed. Danish Modern Lamps.

It arrived!  The mother ship has landed!  It looks very atomic and space age right?  It's a Danish mid century lamp with teak wood legs, brass hardware and a frosted white glass shade.  

This is the lamp I mentioned in an earlier post that I ordered from Ebay to go in the bedroom.  Well, before it arrived I found a mushroom lamp at Salvation Army that is now on my bedside table, so this had to find a new home.  It was larger than expected but I absolutely love it.  I've got it in the den for now but we'll see where it ends up.

I just love lamps. I probably have too many in my home but oh well.  No, you can't have too many.

Here are some other super cool Danish lamps available on Ebay and Etsy:

Danish Modern Hanging Lamp $200 at Bloodline NYC 

Danish Modern Eames Era Tension Pole Lamp Tulips $245 at Some Girls Do 

Mid Century Teak Floor Lamp Danish Modern $395 at Modern To Retro

Mid Century Danish Modern Teak Eames Era Lamp $350 from AS Village Treasures

Danish Modern Teak Hanging Lamp Poulsen era bid at $73.54 from Zeppelin36

Danish Modern Mid Century Teak Modeline California Lamp starting bid $199.99 from Biggie48

Danish Modern Starburst Lamps Eames Era $340 from Modern Cactus

Danish Eames Lamp Mid Century Haj Markaryd era $235 from Modern and Objects

Danish Modern Eames Era Laverne Table Lamp $325 from Modern and Objects

Danish Modern Pendant Light Fixture Eames Poulsen Era $285 from Red Promo 2

Danish Modern Teak Wood Mid Century Table Lamp $149.99 from Vintage House

Wow, they just don't make them like this anymore.  I'm always saying that.  I love the mid century!

Mod 1960's Space Age Egg Lamp

I found this fabulous 1960's EGG "Space Age" mid century modern lamp with tulip base at one of this past weekend's estate sales. I've coveted these for a long time and there it was sitting on the table waiting for me.

I was so very excited to have found my very own egg lamp. Then....I get it home and it doesn't work in my space. How is that possible? I don't know but it just doesn't work with my other mid century pieces. Sooo, though I hate to see it go this fabulous piece of mid century art go, it's going on my etsy shop today.

Made of hard, durable plastic. The base is a lovely 60's Saarinen style tulip shape. The egg shade is open at the top-back but also pulls off the base for easy bulb changing. So cute. I know it will look great in someone's mid century modern or danish modern home.

Light Up My Vintage World

My shop is gaining quite a collection of lights. I even have more that have yet to be listed!
What I love about lighting is it can transform the way a room feels and looks. Your lamp choice is a big one:
Is it super simple and unobtrusive? Is it large and fabulous, the center of the room? Does it project soft light or light up the space well?
Me, I love several lights in a room (providing it's large enough to accommodate several - I have 3 in my living room den), that project soft light in different areas. For me it's important to have some light in all corners. I wish I had more spaces to fill in my home so I could build on my collection of vintage and mid century lamps but I'll just have to do with what I have. I'm all lit up!

Here are just a few from my shop and some etsy favorites below.....


My shop's Vintage Mid Century Fiberglass Table Lamp $40


My shop's Vintage Mid Century Ceramic Table Lamp $38


My shop's Vintage Mid Century Orange Tall Ceramic Lamp $85

And A Couple of My Favorites from other ETSY Sellers -


White Ceramic Onion Table Lamp $175 by LiseVintageLighting


Vintage Mid Century Modern Tall Organic Lamp Base $60 by Junk Culture


Quite Possibly My Favorite! Mid Century Modern Laurel Mushroom Lamp $299 by BeggarsandChoosers

What are your favorites?