TABLE LAMPS

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 28

TABLE LAMPS

JEKYLL AND HYDE EFFECTS The table lamp is at the moment the “ leit motif ” of decoration, and the success of a room largely depends on the novelty of its lighting scheme, writes Kathleen Allison-Brown, in the ‘ Daily Telegraph.’ Plaster is all the rage in Pans, and light-containers of all sizes and varieties are made of this inexpensive but effective material —tall, classical jars, vases and urns, gold-spotted cornucopias, sailing ships, wall-masks, and shells. Many of these are cleverly adapted to servo a dual purpose. The electric light unit lifts out easily, being all in a piece, a metal container is inserted into the vessel, and in the twinkling of the proverbial eye you have a highly decorative vase.

A particularly attractive model with alternate bands of gilt and plaster had a large off-white shade edged with heavy gilded rope. Filled with sophisticated arum lilies and slender spikes of green-budded willow, it would like equally ornamental as a vase on its 4ft rope-bound pedestal. A replica of this plaster lamp can be made by distempering in white a cheap well-shaped jar of Devonshire pottery and painting on it broad bands of gold. Invest in a large white vellum shade and round the lower edge fix coarse rope, dully gilded. Glass is second favourite and can also be used in this ‘ Jekyll and Hyde ’ way. Heavy engraved Danish glass jars and vases make lamp-holders, and can be fitted with lamp shades made of an iridescent composition which is in harmony, with the glass vessel. A large amber-coloured pinchin bottle lamp had an original shade bearing a barbaric though modernistic map design. If you like “ amusing ” lamps, pleasantly-shaped wine bottles can be converted. Tall, graceful hock bottles and rounded Chianti and liqueur bottles are admirable for this purpose. Plain vellum shades with gay wine and spirit labels plastered carelessly here and there are original. Placed on the latest tile-covered tables, these bottle lamps provide good “ atmosphere ” for the cocktail hour. All the “ jar into lamp ” conversions can be done by an electrician for a few shillings.