Mystery Lamp: Deco-Styled Deer
This one has peaked my curiosity for a long time. Both elegant and massive (12″ tall and 17″ wide!), it is beautifully designed in a style that I think of as art-deco. (but I could be wrong!) Glazed in chartreuse and emerald green, it is actually too large to have been suitable for many televisions of the day, which could explain its extreme rarity. So who made this behemoth?
In spite of the large areas that could have included all sorts of manufacturer’s info, no markings appear anywhere. I once thought it looked vaguely Haeger-like, but find that to be extremely unlikely. The products of Haeger Potteries are well documented, and this spectacular design surely would have been given the nod by a Haeger expert. I suppose one of the California potteries is its most likely origin, but I’m still baffled that it’s unmarked. Also baffling is the one opening that allows the light to escape… it’s so small! Not only does it pinpoint the light towards the ceiling, but only the smallest hand could change the bulb. For now the maker is a mystery, and its rarity must be due to the size of the lamp and the ineffective design. What’s it worth? I haven’t seen enough of these sell to make that call, but I wouldn’t part with this one for less than $500.