Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Aquarium Motion Lamp, Scene-in-Action, ca 1930

In Animals > Show & Tell and Lamps > Show & Tell.
AnythingObsc…'s loves6689 of 9561Pennwood Embassy Model 751 and Regency Model 800 and , 1955 - 1960Funky cast iron bell
14
Love it
0
Like it

mp.kunstmp.kunst loves this.
ho2cultchaho2cultcha loves this.
Vynil33rpmVynil33rpm loves this.
BenBen loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
ManikinManikin loves this.
inkyinky loves this.
auraaura loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
charcoalcharcoal loves this.
fortapachefortapache loves this.
billretirecollbillretirecoll loves this.
yougottahavestuffyougottahavestuff loves this.
AnythingObscureAnythingObscure loves this.
See 12 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 5 years ago

    aesthete1880
    (29 items)

    This is a really fun novelty item, an aquarium motion lamp made by a Chicago company, Scene-in-Action, ca 1930. They made the first well-know motion lamps in the U.S., and seemingly spared no expense, crafting this lamp from quality materials, including highly detailed cast metal (bronze?), optic glass casing, a carefully rendered paper lithograph, and an early plastic painted inset that rotated from lamp heat (this one is missing its paper top). The metal bottom of this lamp contains a host of different patent numbers pertaining to the technology. This particular lamp is uncommon (in comparison to the Forest Fire and Niagara Falls ones) and was seemingly designed to sit below an actual fish bowl (see advertisement). With brightly colored fish, moving water, an octopus or squid, dark green seaweed, and a glimpse into a magical underwater world, what could be more fun?

    All comments are welcome.

    logo
    Animals
    See all
    Antique Signed Gerschutz Austrian Bronze Grizzly Bear Cold Painted Sculpture NR
    Antique Signed Gerschutz Austrian B...
    $181
    RARE Antique American Arts & Crafts Art Pottery Flower Frog Sculpture
    RARE Antique American Arts & Crafts...
    $52
    RARE CHINESE TURQUOISE GLAZE PORCELAIN BUDDHIST FU LION BEASTS KANGXI PERIOD
    RARE CHINESE TURQUOISE GLAZE PORCEL...
    $369
    FINE ANTIQUE CHINESE CELADON JADE CAT WITH BUTTERFLY FIGURE PENDANT QING DYNASTY
    FINE ANTIQUE CHINESE CELADON JADE C...
    $175
    logo
    Antique Signed Gerschutz Austrian Bronze Grizzly Bear Cold Painted Sculpture NR
    Antique Signed Gerschutz Austrian B...
    $181
    See all

    Comments

    1. yougottahavestuff yougottahavestuff, 5 years ago
      Beats a Lava Lamp any day!!! Nice Post!!
      Stuff
    2. billretirecoll billretirecoll, 5 years ago
      Nice Lamp, I love the top of it also! :^D Thank you for posting! :^)
    3. aesthete1880 aesthete1880, 5 years ago
      billretirecoll, thanks for your comment! The top is surprisingly detailed. I think it might be modeled somewhat off of the bronze entry doors at the Shedd aquarium in Chicago which feature a bunch of sea creatures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/quacko/128928583/in/photostream/
    4. Bramasoley, 11 days ago
      Looking for a top for aquariam scene in action lamp, and a spinner, Thanks to anyone who can direct me or has one.

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.