The TV Lamp Collectors Blog

These fish TV lamps are familiar to many collectors, but I wonder how many know that they were made by two different potteries?

Before I delve into their differences, I want to identify the sources of these two “2 fish” TV lamps. The brown one was made by Texans Incorporated, the lamp company in Bangs, Texas. But it should be said that it is not one of the Howard Kron designs… those came later. The gray and maroon example was produced at American Art Potteries in Morton, Illinois. I am confident in the attribution of both, as the Texans lamp has been identified by former employees and the AAP version is often found with their foil label.

So how do they differ? The most obvious thing is the number of “waves” on the base, as the AAP version has more, and smaller, waves than the Texans version. The glazes are also a good identifier, as the Texans fish are typically found in a single color with a lighter drip over-glaze. AAP on the other hand, seems to have always gone with two-tone schemes, some quite attractive and others, well… not so attractive! (more…)

Claes “Kittens on a Pillow”

This is too cool… a variation of the Claes “Glowing-Eyed Siamese Twin Kittens T-V Lamp” that includes a pink pillow/cat bed! The cats and pillow are not fused together, the lamp set into position on the base. Although the pillow isn’t marked it was clearly designed specifically for the purpose of supporting the cats, their contours fitting perfectly. Is this rare? You bet your sweet bippy! The lamp itself is relatively scarce, but the pillow is extremely rare. I should mention at this point that the example shown here is currently listed on eBay, and is auction #300153002999. (more…)

Three-Cat TV Lamp (maker unknown)

This interesting lamp has developed great popularity for what it isn’t… it isn’t a Claes! It appears to be a creative re-working of Leland Claes Siamese Cats, with the addition of a kitten on the left, resulting in a format vaguely similar to the Lane & Co. 3-Cats design. In previous posts I’ve spoken of an unwritten “15% rule” regarding the use of designs from others, and the kitten would have cleverly met that criteria. So who made these lamps? The only marking is Made in Calif. scripted across the bottom, which isn’t much help. My pet theory is that it could have been done by William Hirsch Manufacturing, the company that is generally considered to have made Claes’ designs. I’m of the belief that the designer and manufacturer came to some sort of disagreement, with Hirsch opting to carry-on with modified versions of the Leland Claes lamps. (more…)

Maddux of California…what is it?

I believe that this TV lamp from Maddux of California doesn’t get the respect it deserves… what? No, I haven’t taken leave of my senses. (which I suppose could be suspect from the outset) While TV lamps have been elevated to a lofty position by collectors, it’s good to remember what catapulted them to the rank of “hot collectible” in the first place. The 1970s and ’80s saw considerable interest in the more tasteless artifacts of the 1950s, from B-movies to home decor, and this lamp would certainly have been appreciated then. TV lamps are a peculiar product of their time and today represent the epitome of ill-conceived, downright tacky design. This is too often forgotten, as they are today sometimes viewed with a solemn reverence once reserved for Roseville pottery or Tiffany glass. Providing that your sense of humor is intact, how can this cheesy (and cheese-colored!) lamp not bring a smile? (more…)

Royal Fleet “Star and Moon”

I’m not afraid to say that I’m particularly attracted to unusual TV lamps… the more bizarre the better! This one from Royal Fleet certainly fills the bill. As with many such lamps with a juvenile theme, it’s possible that our “Star and Moon” was marketed as a night-light, but the size (and presence of a planter) isn’t really in keeping with the genre. Perhaps a Royal Fleet product catalog will surface one day, but until then we’ll just have to guess as to how it was marketed. (more…)