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Thrift stores are filled with items that were prized one decade but considered tacky the next. An interesting part of the treasure-to-trash cycle is that some old, unwanted items from one generation become desirable for the next generation. Quirky, collectible vintage pieces like TV lamps can pop up in the home decor section of your favorite thrift store. Pieces of this figure, often made of ceramic, were once adorned on top of mid-century TV sets to provide a little ambient glow while families watched TV in the dark. Although they were created during the mid-century era, which peaked in the 1950s and 1960s, these lamps are still interesting enough to decorate a bookcase or shelf, as many of them look more like kitschy sculptures than lamps. Whether you’re into retro kits or Grandmother chic outfitThe right TV lamp can enhance your home.
TV lamps can be in the shape of an animal, boat, vehicle, mermaid, theatrical mask or anything else that can look beautiful. Mid-century living room. If you’re lucky enough to find one at a thrift store, you can save some serious cash on your newfound treasure. As with other collectibles, TV lamps sold in antique stores can cost much more than lamps found in thrift stores. If you visit multiple places to find your favorite retro ware, TV lamps are among them A valuable collection to find at an estate sale.
Identifying thrift store TV lamps (and how to use them in your home)
When you find a mid-century figure at a thrift store, the key clues that it’s a TV lamp are the cord sticking out of the back and the socket for the light bulb inside. The bulb is usually not visible from the front because, by design, the front is blocked so it emits a soft glow that is easy on the eyes. In fact, some TV lamps doubled as planters, clocks or even radios in the 50s and 60s.
With thousands of different designs made by over 100 manufacturers, there’s likely to be a style to suit your decor. Display a Siamese cat lamp with kitschy cat decor in your guest bedroom, or light a series of TV lamps inside a glass-fronted mid-century modern china cabinet to create an after-dark glow in your dining room. A Panther or Clipper Ship TV lamp with a clock might look great in a man cave or in your basement bar, displayed with some 1960s barware. Any planter TV lamp would look great on a plant shelf, serving as a planter during the day and as an ambient light source at night. Some of these combos can look great displayed in a collection of head vases.
Prices on thrift-store TV lamps vary greatly, and are often based on whether the pricing team knows they have potential value. Even in antique shops and online sites like Etsy, prices vary greatly depending on rarity and what the seller thinks their TV lamps are worth. Current Etsy tv lamp price Ranges from around $40 to hundreds of dollars.
