How does one tell?
The woman I got it from had it for over fifty years. It has some serious wear to the paint job but still works. I have a feeling it might be the real deal. All the hardware is consistent with the earlier models of the lamp. I'm not sure how early on people were doing knock offs though. Either way, it's still pretty cool.
I agree - It is a cool lamp.
Easiest way to tell that it's a replica is to look at the way the shade is mounted. On the original lamps, the frame tube terminates in a "T" into which the shade's ball-joint is fitted.
Photos, top to bottom:
One of the original lamps that sold at Wright a few months ago for $13K.
A closeup of the faithful reproduction that Gubi's been selling for about a year.
Your lamp.
Thanks!!! I'm super stoked about the find!
I was pretty sure it was real and very early. I got it from a sweet old lady who was the original owner. She had all those Tuttle stools and a set of 4 Eames wire chair rockers. She wasn't ready to let go of those! But she was definitely a collector from the era. It seems that the T joint was a later addition to the Grossman lamp. The hardware on mine is just like what was on the one that was in Greta Grossman's home for a promotional photo shoot in 1948. I would be surprised if she had a knock-off in her own home! Some of these earlier examples of the lamp have sold at Wright and been featured in reputable shows.
see the table lamps here:
http://www.lamodern.com/featured-artists/greta-magnusson-grossman/
and the Grasshopper lamps here:
http://designapplause.com/2012/modern-design-auction-wright-auction/24033/
Noah
You and alexandersforum are correct. There are different generations and different manufacturers of the grasshopper lamp and I believe yours is authentic.
Here is a detail of the pair you linked to. The neck/ head transition is the same as yours.
There are a number of details that vary among the different generations and makers of the grasshopper lamp. I have seen many of these in person, inspected them closely, compared and contrasted them and I've yet to sort it all out. I would be interested in seeing more detailed shots of your lamp. Besides the neck/ head juncture, I'd be curious to see the head (number and placement of holes) the feet (with a measurement of the diameter) and overall measurements.
The one thing I do know is that the knock-offs or copies have very significant differences in the design and construction and after looking at many of these I can tell you that they are pretty easy to spot.
Well, ok.
I'm certain that Pegboard has seen more of these lamps than I have, so I'll defer to his more-expert opinion. Noah, I apologize for making that snap judgment; I hope I didn't cause you any distress.
I've seen a number of Grasshoppers, and the only non-"T" authentic lamps I've ever seen have a swivel that looks like the one in the photo below, which was also used in at least one of Grossman's other lamp designs.
I've never seen a real Grasshopper with a swivel that looks like Noah's, but I'd love to learn more. Pegboard (or anyone else), do you have photos of another authenticated example with a swivel like the one on Noah's lamp?
fastfwd
I'd be interested in having a more protracted conversation about the details of the Grossman grasshopper lamp, but maybe we don't want to derail this thread. In an effort to allow us space and time to delve into this further, I'll start a new thread dedicated to the subject.
hello.
The lamp's feet are roughly 1 inch and 5 8ths in diameter. The lamp is a little over 4 feet and 1 inch tall. The shade is about 9 inches long. fastfwd, the joint looks like the ones that pegboard posted above. The one you just posted looks like the real lamp but possibly with an altered joint.
here is another authenticated one with the joint that matches the lamp I have:
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/8755807
I'll post a pic of that with more pics of mine below.
Thanks
noah
Please add your photos and comments to the thread I started about the grasshopper lamp so this one can continue to be about recent acquisitions.
Oh, and you'll notice that the feet of your lamp are smaller than those wit the "T" shaped joint at the neck/ head. It's also much lighter in weight.
Knoll and Thonet Furniture...
Knoll and Thonet Furniture and specification binders for $9.99 a piece. Knoll binder is stupendous and cleaned up really nicely. Thonet binder not as great but has all the knoll knockoffs along with some amazing Eero Aarnio plastic designs I had never seen. The graphics on the dividers are also fantastic.
For a better idea of the Knoll binder, I have attached a picture and the link to the same one that recently sold on Ebay for over $200. Its an amazing resource.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KNOLL-INTERNATIONAL-FURNITURE-Spec-Binder-design...
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