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I don't like much kitsch--which is what the lamp you describe sounds like--, but some people are fascinated by the 1950s spirit of progress, optimism and space travel, and so they have a few representative pieces. I think that spirit was best captured by the great designers of the time, but there's fun to be found in some rocket lamps or glasses with starburst patterns. My one piece of space-age kitsch is a small lamp whose base is in the shape of the atomic model. It's not great design, but how it speaks of a time that fascinates me. I'd trade it in a flash for a lamp by Robsjohn-Gibbings, Noguchi or Gerald Thurston. But fortunately I can have both. But a word to the wise: own kitsch very sparingly. One rocket lamp is fun. Two, for me, is depressing.
If you mean one of these...
If you mean one of these (not my own I hasten to add) I believe they were produced in the 60 and 70s although easy for the uninitiated to mistake for 50s. Badly made junk for the most part but arguable that you could use one in an ironical way and snigger (alone) behind your hand. The joke would wear thin very soon though.
I am
dumbfounded. Where's the love ? How is this form any less valid than that of an Eames chair or a Nelson Marshmallow sofa ?
Somehow this has now been lumped into the Sputnik light/Lava lamp category of "low class" design -- why ? because it came "too late" to be "authentic" MCM or something ?
Talk about pigeon-holing (and vituperation). . .!
*Harrumph*
I dislike these lamps...
I dislike these lamps because they are of very poor quality materials and construction, unstable (too lightweight), brittle, poorly finished, derivative and inefficient. Few if any of these criticisms could be used in relation to an Eames chair or Nelson sofa. Possibly they achieve 'the look' (at a distance) but often this is the most easily achieved part of the design process wouldn't you agree? I'm not sure how arguments of 'validity' come into it really. To argue that all objects are equally valid is, to me, a dead end. Of course many objects which have no pretensions to exclusivity and have no designer name attached are enjoyable, satisfying, affordable, usable things....but with the best will in the World this just isn't one of them. It's just a poorly realised lamp.
Are they commonly seen in the US btw? I've always imagined them to be British such is their abundance here.
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