Sunday, March 16, 2008

Christopher Spitzmiller Lamps

I've been meaning to post and tell you all about my birthday week and the fun day we spent at a country auction (yes, I bought something!). But I've been busy every evening and not feeling so great from a new headache med, so I spent the weekend resting and napping. I did manage to vacuum and we took my 26-year old cousin and his girlfriend out for dinner, but otherwise...kaput!

While lying on the sofa yesterday, I flipped through a pile of my House Beautiful magazines. House Beautiful is one of my favorite decorating magazines, combining the traditional rooms I love, but often pared-down and tuned-up with colourful modern elements. They feature a vertitable who's who of professional designers, and have great interviews to get you inside their creative heads! The magazine has a true love and appreciation for colourful palettes, often based on a neutral foundations.

Pottery Barn milk glass lamps

While visiting Pottery Barn recently, I noticed their milk glass gourd-shaped lamps in vibrant spring colours. These retro-look lamps reminded me of Christopher Spitzmiller's designs, that I've seen again and again in House Beautiful the last couple of years. I kept noticing these lamps (or similar) in several issues yesterday. Finally the mass-market retailers are catching on!

Christoper Spitzmiller is a super-successful ceramicist who's translated his craft into a lamp-making empire from his studios in Manhattan. From location alone, you know his work isn't for the budget-conscious. His lamps are divine creations with classical forms, and according to his website "drenched in bold vibrant rich glazes"! Each lamp is fitted in a handmade wood base that may be gilded in yellow or white gold. The following photos are from his website:




I'm positively smitten with the pink double-gourd lamp below:I've hunted in Calgary for a lamp like this but only managed to find gray and black ones so far. Sadly Pottery Barn doesn't carry a pink one. Imagine how pretty a hot pink one would be in my living room, or in a little girl's room?!


Christopher Spitzmiller's lamps are only available at select US retailers. I don't want to ask what they cost. But be prepared to see lots of knock-offs as this bright, cheery lamp trend will be with us a while! And why not? I'd never tire of one of these stunning jewels in my bedroom.

13 comments:

  1. OKay...I am betting there has to be some type of paint Terri...for glass or ceramic. I haven't done any of this type of thing myself...but there must be. You could just find a shape of lamp you like...paint it hot pink... et voila...your own Spitzmiller ...

    Or.... find a great vase.... drill a hole in the base for the cord..get the lamp "makings" and make your own. Plenty of shades at Linens and Things...or other shops...

    haven't a clue what our dream means.... but it is weird to have it repeatedly isn't it? don't particularly like that one.... but, then I have plenty that I don't like....

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  2. Hi!
    What lovely little lamps! I hope that you have had a wonderful birthday and that your headache isnt too bad today.
    Have a wonderful monday!
    Hugs, Susanne

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  3. I must confess, I have never been one to spend much time or money on lighting fixtures or lights. The shape and colours of those in your post catch my fancy though and I may just start perusing the light aisle looking for just such a fashionable light.

    Has the new med side effect lessened at all?

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  4. Christopher Spitzmiller was nice to learn about. I have not heard about him before. The lamps look beautiful and so do the ones from Pottery Barn. I wish Pottery Barn had stores in Europe...

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  5. Oh, BumbleVee's suggestion sounds like just the ticket for the budget-minded such as myself. Hopefully, they'll show up at Target soon.

    I actually prefer a lamp that "goes away" so this would be a stretch, but stretching is good.

    Glad that you had a good birthday week or a "better" week. Hope that we'll get to hear about the auction and what you bought.

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  6. Hej Terri!
    Great my postcard finally reached u over there :-)
    I have had a terrible work weekend. Today I have day off and I need to recharge my batteries.

    So I shall just be, not do anything. Next weekend we go skii slope and make great easter dinner.

    Take much care my friend
    Hugs Kat

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  7. The lamps are so pretty, Terri. I can see why you're drawn to them. Have you ever looked at Finnish design? I think you'd like some of the things coming out of Finland - very clean and simple. Looking forward to hearing about your birthday and your auction finds. Take care!

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  8. Anonymous11:28 pm

    Hi Terri:

    I'm new to your blog but was reading about your headache issues. A good friend of mine has a daughter and husband who suffer from migraines and were at wits end. They were told by someone to see a reflexologist. She was completely skeptical but desperate so they went. She now swears by it. Her daughter has gone from 2 migraines a week to maybe one a month. I don't know if it would work for you or if you've been down that road already but could be worth a try. P.S. I can empathize I get them occasionaly and would hate having anymore than I do. Cheers, Donna

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  9. i LOVE the red one -- they're all beautiful, but i adore the red one. and i am surprised to find myself liking the orange one as well.....i usually hate orange. :)

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  10. I just got my Pottery Barn catalog "Yellow" today. Course I thought of you when I saw those milk glass lamps.

    Wishing you and yours a very good Easter weekend, Terri.

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  11. I love the mango/orange one from the Pottery Barn collection, what a great color! And I love the simple silhouette they give.

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  12. Great post! Spitzmiller lamps are sold through two stores in Atlanta, and believe me...they are beautiful (but very expensive!

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  13. Noticed your comment about the pink lamps - www.averynoll.com - just added a pretty pair of vintage pink lamps to their site. You have a lovely blog.

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