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October 31, 2006
The Empress
Those of you who have visited our home know about our antiques turned into lamps. We were turned on to the idea by our friend Maggie Adler, who lives in Williamstown and runs a side business turning found antique objects (from vintage microphones to gas pumps) into interesting light fixtures. Our most beautiful pieces are of her design. But we've taken to finding our own antiques and having them wired up by a lampmaker in Upstate New York.
I'll devote a future entire entry to a tour of our collection, but today I'll focus on our most recent conversion. We were browsing at an estate salvage warehouse in South Baltimore a few years back when we spotted 1950s hair dryer tucked into a back corner. It was in great condition and we immediately wanted to own it, but we weren't sure what exactly we would do with it. It's quite large, as you will see in the photos below. Anyway, we took it home and it sat in our basement in Baltimore, gathering dust and occasionally raising minor interest among our visitors.
A few months back, while up in Williamstown for my sister Andy's wedding, we dropped it off at the lampmaker to see if he might be able to wire it up with a bulb so that it might serve as a floor lamp. A few weeks ago we were back up there and picked it up. Our wildest dreams for the Empress have been realized.
Now, instead of drying beehives, the empress illuminates the lap of one sitting in the luxurious overstuffed leather recliner.
The fellow who worked on it modified the wiring so that the switch that originally controlled the air flow now turns the lamp on and off. He does really beautiful work.
The Empress can be appreciated from all angles.
To see more of these lamps, check out Maggie's site: www.lightbymcadler.com. She does elegant work. And is a very nice person.
Posted by bogenamp at October 31, 2006 06:50 PM