TV Lamps

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About Vintage TV Lamps

In the 1950s, the first decade of mass television adoption, there was a common belief that watching TV in low light could damage one's eyesight. But early TV’s, with their dull luminescence, were best viewed in the dark. So the TV lamp was invented to add a little light to the room and dispel people’s fears.

Originally a dimestore item which sold for $5 or $6, TV lamps were small backlit figurines styled to look like roosters, panthers, horses, deer, people, or plant life. There were thousands of TV lamp designs, made by at least 100 manufacturers. Usually ceramic or made of plaster, most TV lamps were pottery, and today are highly collectible.

Lacking a shade like a normal lamp, the bulb creates a silhouette of whatever shape the lamp itself is and casts its light on the wall behind the TV, creating a kind of a mood lighting.

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Mint Maddux Deer Tv Lamp Mint Maddux Deer Tv Lamp$40.00 Ends in 28 mins 2 bids