Art Deco Lamp

The lighting fixture that falls into the category of art deco lamp might have a base that rests on the floor, or on a table. Sometimes, it features the characteristics of art deco glass and appears as a hanging fixture.

The Light with a Base on the Tabletop

When an art deco lamp has a base that must rest on a table, that base often has the “artsy” characteristics. It might be the sort of base found in a fossil table lamp, such as the one pictured in a recent West Elm catalogue. That light had what looked like a huge seashell under its strangely shaped shade. Sometimes such a light can have a sphere shaped base. The same catalogue reveals the variety of substances used to make such spheres.

A third art deco lamp in the same publication combines the artsy light with a new sort of art deco mirror. That light’s multi-section base is a collection of reflective panels. In the published photograph, it appears in combination with a mirrored sconce.

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When the Art Deco Lamp Touches the Floor

The conventional floor fixture has a flat circular base and a long straight rod, one that holds the light bulb and the lamp’s shade. However, when such a fixture has received a “deco look,” then it can have uniquely shaped base. For example, it might consist of a shade on the top of what bears some resemblance to a photographer’s tripod. On the other hand, it might assume the shape of an inverted L.

In the second case, the rod that holds the lamp’s shade has an extension at the top. A short chain hangs from that extension, and the lamp’s shape is attached to that chain. The shade’s dimensions match with the decided length of the light’s base. The fact that this fixture features a hanging light allows for introduction of a final section.

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The Varied Looks of the Art Deco Chandelier

The chandelier came into use when candles were a primary source of light. Therefore, a chandelier holds an entire group of tiny lights. When transformed into an artsy looking decoration, such a fixture could have a rather interesting way of holding and distributing those many lights. For example, it might be a huge fixture crafted from the beams of a wine barrel, or it might be a collection of glass pieces, pieces formed from various wine bottles.

Finally, no article about the art deco lamp would be complete without mention of an alternative to the chandelier—the hanging pendant light. Such a light could have a woven shade, such as the one on the pendant that West Elm editors have placed over a dining room table. However, a pendant does not have to be a solid fixture. It can be a large rectangular metal with many small pieces of glass hanging down from its metal frame. Moreover, a pendant does not have to hang from the ceiling. It can seem to “grow” out of the wall, like the odd-looking Capiz pendant.