Olde Lamps & Thangs

I know there are a lot of thangs I don't know...but I didn't know there was so much to know about lamps...of all thangs!

Recently, Hannah and I were in Boydton, Virginia, and stopped by Olde Lamps & Thangs to have some lamps repaired and also to have an oil lamp electrified.

Look at all the wonderful lamps inside this antique shop. I loved them all! This is only one room of several where lamps were displayed.

The proprietor was more than happy to share his knowledge and expertise when we asked about the purplish-tinted and gold-tinted lamps we saw in his shop.

We learned that lamps made between 1840 and 1910 were made with various levels of lead in them. When these lamps are exposed to the sun's rays, then the lead makes these clear lamps turn purple or gold--depending on the amount of lead in them.

He showed us one lamp that was a rich purple color and said the man who sold it to him had left it outside on top of his roof for two years in the sun just so it would turn purple. Very interesting!

One of the lamps we brought for him to repair was turning a slight goldish color, and he guessed that it was made around 1900. I picked out a beautiful hand-painted floral yellow globe for this lamp; it's my favorite one, and I love it!

In the picture above Bill works on an oil lamp that he's electrified for Sarah. He was especially interested in the antique chimney and asked if I wanted to trade it to him for another. No thank you, we'll keep it--it's a beautiful antique memory given to us by Aunt Bunny. The smaller blue floral globe on the table to the left is one I picked out for another lamp he repaired.

If you're ever in the Boydton area, I'd recommend stopping by Olde Lamps & Thangs and seeing Bill's beautiful lamps. His cute little black dog has run of the shop, so give Boo-Boo a pat if you get a chance to visit. :)

~Deb

Comments

[Bet]

What a neat shop! I didn't picture it quite like that at all. I hope to take some of my lamps in and have them fixed to be as beautiful as yours. Will you post a picture of the goldish/floral yellow globe one so we can see?

[Nick Jesch]

I used to spend time (too much of it, I suspect) walking the beaches on the wild Northern California coast. Often I'd find old glass, sometimes the Japanese fisherman's glass floats, sometimes even whole bottles (more often found at some of the old homesteads near the beaches). A significant number of these would have that purple tint to them...... it gives them a strange, almost erie, appearance, and makes them so interesting. Sometimes, when one had been lying in the same place for a long time (decades?) one side would be a deeper shade of purple than the other. I've also seen old window glass, the old "float glass" panes with "seeds" (bubbles) and irregular surfaces, tinted purple from being out in the sun so long. the "modern" rolled glass is so refined and "perfect" it is boring...... the old stuff is amazing to see. Those old lamps are amazing, too.... if I'm ever in Virginia......

[Victoria]

What an interesting shop. I love the blue floral globe you picked out.

Victoria

[Tammy]

That place looked fun.It reminded me of my grandmother's house was the 70's.She was in her 80's then so you can imagaine what kind of treasures were in her house.