I love old things…especially old functional things like dishes and lamps. Really cool old things can be found in two places: vintage stores with knowledgeable proprietors and yard sales. You’ll find the best bargains at yard sales because store owners in the know will price their cool things accordingly. This lamp is a mixture of both. The shade I swapped from another lamp that I purchased in Adamstown, PA. The lamp was purchased at Building Character in Lancaster, PA. It was paired with a white shade of the wrong decade that made it look sad. Old and sad but not old in that cool way we’re looking for. I know a gem when I see it. It was $12.
The miser in me didn’t buy it immediately, but I couldn’t get it out of my head. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a photo of it to carefully consider it. Regardless, I came back the next day and scooped it up. It had been waiting for so long that the rotting price tag fell off the bottom as I carried it to the register. I dashed to Home Depot for supplies and rewired it immediately carefully cleaning every part with a Magic Eraser and Simple Green. I also picked up an LED bulb, which is essential for preserving your old vintage lampshades. Why? They emit very little heat, and they last a long time.
I spent less than $28 on this lamp, and I use it every day. The pink color reminds me of 50s bathroom tile, and if you look closely, it has a similar texture. The shape reminds me of a seahorse. It makes me smile every time I turn it on.