posted on October 15, 2001 02:18:42 AM
I have a set of lamps I got at an auction, they are really filthy, but nothing that won't clean up. The base is brass colored and there is a glass part that has been painted an opal color on the inside, the outside of the glass has applied metal rose type flowers. Is it even worth cleaning up? Does anyone know what they may be, or what the style is? I am not into this kind of thing at all and am lost.
[ edited by hcross on Oct 15, 2001 02:23 AM ]
posted on October 15, 2001 06:40:56 AM
I'm no lamp expert, but yours look like nice ones well worth saving. Get out the old magnifying glass and see if they have any markings. The process of coloring the inside of the glob and attaching metal, perhaps silver, or sterling, or it could be brass, or pot metal! to the outside suggests an up scale item. If the lamps have a round plug and cord made of cloth fiber that suggests some age. I would wipe off dust and loose dirt, but don't polish the metal surfaces. You could ruin the original finish.
Many people, me included, like the patina that forms on aged metal. Good luck!
posted on October 15, 2001 10:22:17 AM
Thanks, I appareciate it, I have looked at so many lamps on ebay it has made me sick. I still did not find them, but I did learn that the metal flowers are possibly tole and if the inside is painted that is reverse painting. I cleaned it up and it has turned up sort of pretty. I think it has been rewired so the cord thing doesn't apply here. Thanks for replying. Heather
posted on October 15, 2001 02:07:33 PM
I am curious to find out in what part of the country people would consider those lamps anything more than a Salvation Army special of the week.
Made in the mid-1960's, bronzed pot-metal and maybe worth in the NYC Metro area about 25.00 for the pair....in good working condition.
posted on October 15, 2001 02:11:54 PM
In my area of the country junk like this goes for $50-100 and up, guess it depends on your area, lots of lamps similar to this in the antique shops for $100 each and people do buy them. Everyone has their own style and taste, I have cleaned them up and they actually look nice now. I know lots of the people who are into shabby decorate this way, to call is Salvation Army is a little crappy.
posted on October 15, 2001 02:15:59 PM
These lamps bring back memories for me. My mother earned a pair of these in the 60s by having Stanley Home Products parties. The bottom glass part should light up also. Kind of like soft night lights. I wouldn't mind them in my house. Good luck with them.
posted on October 15, 2001 03:27:33 PM
I cleaned it one of them up pretty good, it does have a lightbulb in the base, here is a better photo, does it still resemble the one your mother got?
posted on October 15, 2001 03:52:29 PM
very similar but not quite the same, does yours have eagles at the top of the base? moms were more rounded at the bottom but they gave these away in more than one style and the decoration on the base was always the floral type. they are definitely 60s.
posted on October 15, 2001 05:15:20 PM
If they are like the ones I remember, they would be a little tall for a mantle. with the shades, my mothers were about 40" tall.
