Necessity may be the mother of invention, but at my house it takes the rap for something else. I collect lamps. Not just any old lamp, lamps that have special features. I like a lamp to tell a story. I have lamps that light up three different ways, lamps that play music, lamps that ‘perform’ actions. Some of them are just novel – a silk-shaded Eiffel Tower; a silver bear with beaded bees swarming about the shade – and some are simply lovely to look at – luminous Murano glass bases, or perhaps my antique, handcrafted bowling pin lamp..
I didn’t fall in love with lamps by accident. At one point in my life, I lived in a lovely, old tudor house. The operative word there is: old. The house may have had charming accoutrements like a butlers’ pantry but one thing it didn’t have was overhead lighting.. This house was built in the era of lamps. Table lamps, floor lamps and the occasional ceiling fixture – that’s what banished darkness after sunset. All lighting came from charming, sometimes whimsical, devices that illuminated rooms.
This house of mine was built before pot lights were a common residential feature. Recessed, or pot, lighting was invented in the late 1930s in Detroit, Michigan. There was a limited range and they were marketed as ‘built-in lighting’. The fellow who invented these built-in light fixtures, Ivan Kirlin, was the son of an electrical pioneer. The Kirlin Company also introduced the porcelain electrical socket which offset the risks of electrical fires arising from the emerging technology of electricity. They also lay claim to inventing the three-colour traffic signal light. Ivan Kirlin was also the man responsible for another construction element that we’re all familiar with – the glass building block.
But as I say, my house pre-dated the adoption of this new-fangled technology. It had, however, all sorts of intriguing features specific to its era. There were huge metal wheels on the wall in the garage. They either operated a long-defunct sprinkler system or the locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway – I was never sure. Nothing seemed to happen whenever I yanked on them. On the dining room floor there was a small metal button where the hostess could discreetly summon staff to clear the dishes. Regardless of how many times I pressed down on that button – alas! – no staff ever magically appeared.
But back to lighting …. A pot light isn’t an active participant in decor; ideally, it does it’s job invisibly. A lamp, however, well, a lamp is an active participant in whatever theme you’ve got going. Time was, department stores would have a section devoted solely to lamps. Places like Crate and Barrel have dozens to choose from. All of these sources of illumination, however, seem to be bland and interchangeable. No, not for me an ivory glazed pot with an ivory burlap drum shade. Not when I could have a hula girl who actually swivels her grass skirt!
Here’s a look at what hula girl lamps are all about! They hail from the 1940s and 1950s and were made by the same Chicago company that used to make the Oscar awards.
Of late, I’ve been hauling all of these treasures out of the crawlspace. There’s a wooden one, made in Austria in the 1960s, featuring Jack and Jill and a wooden well that offers a secondary function as a night-light. I have a couple of metal lighthouse lamps that I used as nightlights when my kids were little; I told them they were wee tugboats and these lights would help them navigate rocky shoals if they got up in the night. The prize of my collection is a metal pagoda with two separate green linen shades that form the sloping roofs of the pagoda. A small bulb lights up the red windows of the interior of the lamp, while a larger light bulb provides additional light. There’s also a small lever that, when you push it to one side, plays an unidentified piece of music.
What am I going to do with all of these? My kids look at them, then at me, and then covertly confer with each other as to what’s to be done about mother.
It all starts so innocently.
“A reading lamp, you say?”
“Let me see what I can find.”
This week’s question for readers:
WHAT DO YOU COLLECT? HAS YOUR COLLECTION OVERTAKEN YOU?
Leave your Comments below!
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Submissions to last week’s question:
ARE YOU A MUSIC LOVER? WHAT MOVES YOU?
I always remember my father telling me when I was young, “The definition of a gentleman is someone who knows how to play the saxophone … and doesn’t!”
Geoff Eldred
I am reading your column as I listen to The Chieftains with the Rankins for my daily morning music and paper. I also embarrassingly teared up as Queen Elizabeth walked out to a piped lament. Music stirs my Celtic blood.
John Pringle
Pink Floyd, Comfortably Numb. Preferably at a rather high volume. It speaks for itself. Almost as good as bagpipes. Oh yes, and Ave Maria for a closer.
Rod Coleman
I have often thought, and expressed to others, that, “If I don’t hear some classical music in the next five minutes, my head will explode!”! It works! Very calming!
George Hitsman
You mentioned glory …. Music touches the individual soul and then assembles those souls into cohesion. The sum is greater than its parts. That’s why churches, soccer clubs and armies sing – to become one. As much as providing pleasure, music can be a fearsome tool.
Name withheld
Classical music has been a constant companion in my life. I am moved emotionally when I listen to the second movement of Beethoven’s 5th piano concert. As a teenager, Beatlemania was the rage of my generation. My grandchildren were exposed to Mozart at an early age “playing orchestra”, waving their arms like the conductor. My love of music transcends all genres. Don McLean’s song, “Vincent”, about Vincent Van Gogh’s tragic life brings me to tears. Leonard Cohen’s song, “Anthem”, is a sacred composition of praise and gladness. The CBC FM Music daytime programs continue to inspire me and lift my spirits.
Yvonne J. Kolstee
I am definitely a music lover, and I cannot stop moving my 79 year old body once I begin listening to my eclectic running playlist. Music is my motivator and inspires me to jog and speed walk.
I recently participated in a Stanley Park sea walk run with Elton John and Dua Lipa (Cold Heart), Paul Simon (Graceland), Dire Straits (Sultans of Swing), Brooks and Dunn (My Maria), Johnny Rivers (Baby, I Need Your Loving), Martha Reeves and the Vandellas (Nowhere to Run), and others.
What an absolute pleasure!
Keith Brind
The topic of music struck a loud chord for me! Classical, and in latter years, choral music are essential to my being! My heart, mind and soul are nourished by this music! As a young girl, my favourite music was Fantasia, or Greensleeves by Ralph Vaughn Williams, Strauss’; The Blue Danube Waltz, and The Teddy Bears’ Picnic. I feel compelled to listen to classical music! If I’m home or in my car and CBC Radio 2 is playing classical music, I have it tuned in. I’ve driven the Coquihalla Hwy many times on my own and always play Sergei Rachmaninov’s piano concertos. The soaring, majestic music is perfect for the soaring mountains and scenery.
Lesley Day
“And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda” by Eric Bogle. I first heard this Remembrance Day piece on Max Ferguson’s Saturday morning CBC program in the 80’s. I challenge anyone to sing this, beginning to end, any time of the year, in a clear voice without a tear welling up.
Doug Hone
My partner and his family have been associated with the pipes and drum community on the west coast for generations. Richie piped on the BC Regiment battlefield tour May 2023 where many tears were shed by the public in France, Belgium and the Netherlands when the laments were played. Older brother John was a base drummer with SFU, and has been leading many a mass band at events in Western Canada for many years as well. Pipe ‘em in, pipe ‘em out – births, weddings, funerals – tears always shed. I love music of all genres, but the bagpipes certainly do stir the soul.
Margaret Dutilloy
All my life, I have loved music in various forms, both old and new. An example is organ music heard in a village church, in vast European cathedrals and recently at Pacific Spirit United Church in Kerrisdale. It was a program called Vox Organic where Gamut Inc. performed Aggregate #11 where the organ was played through laptops as you would a synthesizer. And yes, I love EDM (electronic dance music). I was inspired to get a tattoo a few years ago. Two Chinese characters, one above the other. The top one represents SOUND and the bottom one represents HAPPINESS, put them together and you have MUSIC.
Michael Welsh
I wanted you to know that in Sidney, BC there’s a fabulous Robert Burns Night in January, put on by the Greater Victoria Police Pipe Band. It’s one of the highlights of our year, and about 500 people attend. Stirring music, singing, dancing, and a terrific meal (with haggis of course). It makes me very nostalgic for my Scottish roots. My parents moved to England before I was born, but I feel that Scotland is my second home – and I went to Edinburgh University, just as did my father, uncle, great uncle, and grandfather.
Madeleine Lefebvre
Ever since I can remember, I have dreamt of being an opera singer, and would be constantly belting out Nessun Dorma to the chagrin of those around me. It seems no amount of unbridled enthusiasm or singing lessons could mask my inability to carry a tune. In spite of these lyrical deficiencies however, I continue to swallow flies while biking to work as singing is the cheapest, most soothing and most satisfying form of therapy that I know!
Avrum Miller
Music has been the backdrop to the best and worst days of my life. When I am having a bad day, listening to Van Morrison’s, These are the Days, soothes my soul. Songs Tougher than the Rest, and Living on a Prayer always take me back to my daughters’ weddings, two of the most joyous days of my life. On the other hand, on the two most painful days of my life, I know that playing music from their homeland as my parents were passing gave them and me a sense of peace. The sounds of CCR remind me of the carefree days in my teens. My favourite form of exercise is turning up the music in my daughter’s studio and dancing to Billy Idol, the Boss, and the Killers! Nothing makes mundane tasks more enjoyable than doing them to music.
Maggie Basa
I have always been moved by music. I have been an amateur guitar and ukulele player for almost 60 years.I love hearing songs that stir the soul. Many years ago, when my son was ill at Childrens’ Hospital for three years, his three favorite movies were: Mary Poppins, Wizard of Oz, and The Sound of Music. Almost 40 years later, I still get teary-eyed listening to any of those movie’s songs.
Keith Akenhead
When I was growing up, in the days before TV, our home was always full of music. My dad and my two sisters and I all played the piano and, as well as practising, we played by ear, making up duets and singing little ditties. I’ve always sung in my church choir as well as school choirs. In the last few years, I’ve been enjoying a community choir out of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in West Vancouver which was begun by Dr. Annabelle Paetsch before the pandemic. We have survived, expanded and are now playing two concerts a year for over 200 people. We’ve all become good friends and I know this music is providing joy to all.
Mollie Leiani Anthony