Mid-Century Modern Extending Floor Lamp With B&H Solid Brass Shade

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Here’s a REALLY special “expanding” floor lamp, no doubt radical for its time (40s?). The shade, by contrast, is over … Read more Here’s a REALLY special “expanding” floor lamp, no doubt radical for its time (40s?). The shade, by contrast, is over 100 years old!

So cool… The base is made of cast iron with a plate of solid brass on top, with a lovely old patina. It has a few shallow dents in it (about 4) which, if you really care, can be rubbed out from the reverse side by taking the base apart. Freshly waxed to enhance the old patina; the camera picks up the dents as being on the white end of the color spectrum (somehow reflecting the wax), and of course they are not any such thing to the human eye.

Who knows what might have been the original shade for this lamp?! Perhaps a paper shade? Anyway, the super high-quality, solid brass Bradley and Hubbard shade has the distinct advantage of looking cool and having perfect proportions, as well as a lovely old patina (with a variety of small discolorations).. You’re welcome to employ any size (wattage) bulb you want. The pull-chain acts as your on-off switch. There is a swiveling device just above the socket which allows you to point the shade in any direction you want.

The shaft of this lamp has its original dark green paint on it, and that paint has been scratched here there – actually, just about everywhere! My take on that – so what! You’re always welcome to spray-paint it whatever color you find agreeable. I rather enjoy this testimony to its long use.

The shaft can be nearly effortlessly pulled up from its moorings, and quite a ways (the last photo shows it largely but only partially extended). So, if you want the shade to hang out and over something, you have that option. This will surely impress your company.

Stylish, practical, unique. For me it was a “must-have” at first sight, and I’ve enjoyed having it for decades.

Measurements: 53 inches high as shown in the first photo and about 70 in the last (with about another foot of extension). The base measures 6 ½ by 12 ½. The shade's about 8 inches across the bottom. The shaft is made of steel. The wiring is old, but in excellent condition, and working perfectly. See less