If you’ve ever walked through central Halifax during the
holiday season, you may have noticed an unusual sight on a Quinpool
side street. Instead of the gaudy twinkle of icicle lights, one
glassed-in porch is filled with a warm but alien glow, attracting
strangers and neighbours to this dreamy moonscape.
Welcome to Mark Dunphy’s vintage lamp collection. Mark, who worked
on set construction and puppet armatures for shows like Poko and
Lunar Jim, owns over 75 mid-century lamps. About 45 make his
annual display. Mostly acquired from local vintage shops, Mark doesn’t
collect based on value, but on “pure personal appeal.” In fact, he’s
drawn to affordable lamps that fit the everyday design vernacular of
each era:1 1970s plastic TV lamps in Floridian colours like
turquoise and pink that would have originally been purchased from
places like the local Kmart;2 “silly” round ’60s and ’70s molded
lights that look like giant jawbreakers; and his favourite,3 ’50s lamps with architecturally inspired ceramic bases and lashed
shades.
“It’s our quiet little gift,” Dunphy says.
This article appears in Apr 16-22, 2009.
DROOL
LOVE THESE!!!!!