TV lamps representing swan, ducks and rooster abound, but a few other birds, such as quail, flamingos, parrots and pheasants, were represented as well. The flamingo lamps (particularly those made by Lane & Co.) are extremely popular as a "cross-over" collectible.
value: rarity:![]() This is the Texans Incorporated K200 Bird Paradise TV Lamp. The colors and detail on this one are simply stunning! It was also made in black and in turquoise, and all colors are extremely rare. Photos courtesy of Woodland Trace Collectibles/Bill Keller, Knoxville, TN. |
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| A back-view of the Kron/Texans Inc. bird. | |
| The ®Kron marking is prominently displayed on the back. | |
value: rarity:![]() A beautiful and relatively uncommon Lane, it has the distinctive "look" that's common to their products. Photo courtesy of Woodland Trace Collectibles/Bill Keller, Knoxville, TN. |
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value: rarity:![]() This Lane is a lovely companion piece to the one above. Photo courtesy of Woodland Trace Collectibles/Bill Keller, Knoxville, TN. |
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value: rarity:![]() The gold highlights over red on this Royal Fleet "Two Doves" TV lamp is a knock-out! Photo courtesy of Chris, in Winlock, WA. |
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| Same Royal Fleet as shown above, this time in white. Photos courtesy of R.L. Rising of Rising Sky Artworks. | |
value: rarity:![]() I've got some doubt as to this example having been manufactured by Royal Fleet. The resemblance to the previous TV lamp is obvious, only this one is unmarked and appears stylistically to be the work of a different designer. I suspect that one designer "borrowed" the basic form and interpreted it, adding it to the line of another company. The final glaze on this TV lamp has an iridescent, mother-of-pearl quality. The depression in the front was probably intended to be a candy dish. |
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value: rarity:![]() These pigeons or pea fowl make up the only TV lamp I can think of that has the Norfleet marking. It is more often found marked Royal Fleet. |
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| Back view of the Norfleet birdies. | |
| The Norfleet marking is on the back, below the light fixture. It reads, © Norfleet Calif. | |
value: rarity:![]() This design from Gonder Ceramic Arts might be the only time a seagull has been the subject of a TV lamp. Photo courtesy of Nancy Garneau, Woonsocket, RI. |
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value: rarity:![]() Pretty glazes on this Cardinals TV lamp. Photos courtesy of Corrine Willard from Connecticut. |
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| Overhead view of the previous lamp shows the bulb mounted in a planter-like opening. Some manufacturers sold a given piece as either a planter or, with fixture and bulb, a TV lamp. | |
value: rarity:![]() A seldom-seen Cali-Co of California lamp, with a distinctive style that's unlike other makers bird lamps. Photos courtesy of Mike Bartch. |
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| Back view of the Cali-Co bird TV lamp. The bottom is marked "Cali-Co of Calif 53". | |
value: rarity:![]() The red and green Cali-Co bird lamp above was the only type I'd seen, but then this unusual airbrushed version turned up at an antique mall in Hillsboro, Texas...it scarcely looks like the same lamp! |
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| Here's a look at the back of the airbrushed bird. | |
value: rarity:![]() Not too many Quail TV lamps around! Maddux gave the subject a nice treatment. This is one that you're not apt to come across very often. Photos courtesy of Woodland Trace Collectibles/Bill Keller, Knoxville, TN. |
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| Another look at the Maddux Quail lamp. | |
value: rarity:![]() This bird (eagle?) TV lamp shares nothing stylistically with other known Fuhry & Sons products, and is seldom seen. Photos courtesy of Woodland Trace Collectibles/Bill Keller, Knoxville, TN. |
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| The eagle still carries an original Fuhry & Sons paper label. | |
| Here's a variation of the bird above, this one with different color glaze and airbrushed color. There is no marking on this example, and the Fuhry & Sons paper label is gone. This lamp was found covered with dust in an antique shop window, looking like it had been waiting for a buyer for quite some time! | |
| Back view. | |
value: rarity:![]() At 15½" tall, this California Originals crane TV lamp is really impressive. It also looks great when switched-on! California Originals called it the L-709 Water Bird Planter Lamp. Photos courtesy of Linda Buchanan, Newbury Park, CA. |
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| Back view of the Calif. Originals Crane. | |
value: rarity:![]() Anyone know what kind of bird is represented on this TV lamp? Regardless, the lamp is a beauty! Photos courtesy of Global Auctions, Columbus, IN. |
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| A look at the back of lamp reveals an appropriately colored bulb. | |
| Here's a close-up of the airbrush work on the exotic bird TV lamp. | |
value: rarity:![]() This unmarked chalkware TV lamp is elegantly designed and beautifully colored. Photo courtesy of Brian Moore from Groveport, Ohio. |
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value: rarity:![]() Tilso made a beautiful, elaborate bluejay TV lamp. Photos courtesy of an eBayer from Colorado. |
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| Back-view of the Tilso bluejay lamp. | |
value: rarity:![]() This is a frequently seen TV lamp from American Art Potteries that depicts two cardinals perched above a planter. |
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| This detail shows the beautiful blended glaze that is typically found on this lamp. The bird figurines and planter/lamp portions were cast separately and fused together during firing. | |
value: rarity:![]() I've got to apologize for always carrying on about the rarity of many of the Claes designs...but this one is really, really rare! Stylistically it is not characteristic of Claes work, and was also made with a green finish. Photos courtesy of an eBayer from Chippewa Falls, WI. |
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| Here's the back view. | |
| Here's the green version of Claes' parrot TV lamp. Photos courtesy of David Hawkinson. | |
| Back-view of the green Claes parrot lamp. | |
value: rarity:![]() This TV lamp from Lane & Co. is not found too often, but is a beautiful design. Photos courtesy of Sissy from Granite City, Illinois. |
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| The designer made clever use of light, with the bulb illuminating the background while silhouetting the birds against it. On the back is the date 1960. | |
| Here's a detail, showing one of the colorful birds against the raised background design. | |
| Here is another look. | |
value: rarity:![]() The A.W. Reiser peacock lamp is an early, unusual design. Photos courtesy of Linda Knauss of Indianapolis, Indiana. |
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| Here's a close-up of the peacock. | |
| Back view. | |
| The marking reads Infringements Prosecuted, A.W. Reiser, Toledo, Ohio. | |
value: rarity:![]() The Maddux of California Cockatoo TV lamp is beautifully sculpted! Photos courtesy of R.L. Rising of Rising Sky Artworks. |
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value: rarity:![]() The Haeger peacock TV lamp is a nice design, and found in several colors. Photos courtesy of Diana Harpel-Harvey from Brilliant Sun House of Glass. |
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| Back view. | |
| Close-up of the pretty peacock. | |
value: rarity:![]() Lane's parrot TV lamp is a beauty! Photos courtesy of Char Korcz of Carpentersville, Illinois. |
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| Back view. This one still has the foil Lane & Co. label. | |
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value: rarity:![]() I'd like to give this Royal Fleet Seagull lamp a sixth star for rarity, as this is the only one I've seen! |
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Here it is on all its glowing splendor. |
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Back view. |
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The marking is very crisp and legible, this lamp obviously having been cast from a new (newish) mold. |
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value: rarity:![]() Elegant birds like this were a prominent part of California Originals line, and their fragile nature probably accounts for their rarity today. |
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Back view. |