60s lighting
Funky retro style lamps and lamps shades were very modern in the sixties. Styles ranged from ultra modern to psychedelic. This is a guide to the original retro lighting.
Crestworth Lava Lamp
The Lava Lamp, left, was designed by Edward Craven Walker. They were first introduced to an unsympathetic British market as early as 1963. However, as psychedelia became all pervading their popularity rocketed. It was like having a psychedelic experience in your living room without touching LSD. Possession of a Lava Lamp was enough to badge you a member of the hippy movement.
The Lava Lamp continued into the 70s. Its popularity only waned in the 80s. It hardly seemed the perfect accessory for the yuppie generation.
The original Lava Lamps were made by Crestworth. The copper finish also seems to be unique to the original ones. Later versions are made by Mathmos.
Buy 60s Lava Lamps
There is always a good selection of original 60s Lava Lamps on eBay. The 'Astro' model sells for £30 to £60. Look out for ones in good condition without dents. Expect to pay a bit more for the 'Rocket'.
More on Lava Lamps
This site has a huge amount of detail about Lava Lamps, there are original brochures and a large number of images - perfect for research and knowledge building: www.imovatedesign.co.uk/astro/Intro.html
Some history and the science behind the Lava Lamp: The Mystique of the Lava Lamp
Rotaflex
There are other ways to get the retro look in lighting than the Lava Lamp. Rotaflex lampshades were made of a continuous strand of nylon. These lampshades were ultra moderns in line with the "contemporary" design aesthetics of the age. John and Sylvia Reid, consultant designers for Stag Furniture, also designed for Rotaflex. The lampshade on right is by Rotaflex.
The ball lampshade on the left does not carry a maker's mark. Butlin's used a similar design to this one to give their holiday camps a modern image in the 60s. It may have been made by Rotaflex, or possibly by a competitor.
More 60s lampshades
Inexpensive lampshades in modern designs were popular in the 60s. This lampshade, left, looked modern at the time. It still looks great in a retro style home today.
This lampshade from the late sixties shows some of the ambiguities of the age. It has the look of a spaceship, combined with wooden decoration that has an African tribal feel about it.
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