1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
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L
E G E N D :
Years
General
information
Model
Names
Descriptions
Variations
known/seen
Color
Combinations - Lava color/ Liquid color
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Near 1965
Adolph
Wertheimer and Hy Spector bring Astrolight idea and manufacturing rights,
given by inventor Craven Walker, to the USA; start Lava Corp. and coin
name Lava Lite.
First
lamp in the USA released and marketed as store advertising gimmick for
displays.
"LAVA
LITE sells... on sight!" ...or... "You're always
right with LAVA LITE!"
The
Century
A
17" tall lamp based on the original Astro made by Craven Walker in the
UK. A tapered brass cone dotted with pinholes for a "starlight" effect,
with a short open cone above. The bottle sits in the upper cone and is
itself a tall, tapered cone with a brass-colored plastic cap. The base
sits on a black plastic "tray" with three short feet.
Known
variations: Early version with two-part base, a top cone attached to a
cylinder that slid into the bottom cone. Some early bases appear to be
copper finish; there is no evidence to support the idea that it was ever
a production finish.
The
1st edition of the company's newsletter to sales reps, the LAVA LITER,
shows beside the letterhead a group of lamps, one a Century, the other
two appear to be what might happen if the early Century's inner cylinder/top
cone was slid into other bases, one a "flying saucer" with plants, the
other a sort of rocketship look. However, the 2nd edition, one month later
and after the new Lava Lite line came out, shows as its header logo another
group of 3, the Consort, Decorator Aristocrat, and Empress.
Red/
Flourescent green
Orange/
Yellow
Green/
Blue
Red/
Clear
Yellow/
Green-blue
Shortly
after, a "new" color combination was added:
"Champagne
Mist" (Cream/ Pale amber)
1966
New models...
Aristocrat
More
restrained version of Century; no footed black tray, more elegant base
sometimes called an "hourglass" form. Same bottle. Base and cap are "porcelainized"
white with gold squiggly lines painted all over.
Known
variations: Aristocrat with black painted base/cap with gold squigglepaint.
Aristocrat with black base/cap with squiggles that are visible as texture,
but are black too. Known variations on white/gold Aristocrat include a
gold-finish cap as shown in catalogs, and "starlight" holes in the lower
base cone, an addition that the revised gold base 1970s lamp would include.
The silver version is available in the shop.
Decorator
(Aristocrat)
Same
form as above lamp, with addition of round bowl-shaped tray attached at
midpoint of base. Tray is supposed to hold plantings which the homemaker
could change to suit any mood. Lamp was not supplied with plants; sales
literature suggested marketing to florist and gift shops where rings of
plastic flowers were sold.
Known
variations: Decorator with black porcelainized finish cap/base with gold
squigglepaint. Standard model's flower bowl had a sharp edge, i.e., slightly
upward curved bottom and straight sides with rolled top rim. Variation
has smoothly upward rounded outer edge on bowl, rolled rim.
Consort
Small
"economy" model. A 14" tall cylinder. Brass base has slightly larger "rim"
to hold bottle in place. Base cylinder is mounted on short brass "stem"
which is attached to square walnut wood pedestal.
Known
variations: The Consort was shown in most catalogs with a square walnut
wood base and a straight brass stem. Another stem seen on occasion is the
curved "hourglass" stem. Other bases that turn up include the square plastic
woodgrain-look base and round curved-edge woodgrain-look base. Another
rare variation shown in a catalog and (rarely) turning up on the market
has a walnut wood "mansard roof" shape base, and a woodgrained plastic
cap. While the catalog shows a straight post, one on the market showed
an "hourglass" post. The cap is shorter than usual.
Meditation Series
(also called Prayer Lites)
Consorts
in form and appearance, with the addition of a screened religious motif
on one side of the bottle. One model had a simple, contemporary Cross;
the other, a simple seven-arm Menorah, both in black. "For those moments
of peace and meditation"
The
Nite Lite (Child's Nite Lite)
Again,
a Consort in general appearance, this lamp, perfect for a child's bedroom
or playroom, had a happy, stylized juggling clown printed in black on the
bottle.
A
variation which may or may not be original shows a clown with more black
areas than shown in catalogs. As no catalog evidence has turned up, this
may simply have been a lamp owner's modification.
The
Princess
A
Consort bottle, cap and base cylinder attached, via a stem on one side,
to a rectangular walnut panel, to be mounted on a wall. The panel had a
mirror-like grid-pattern "reflector" behind the bottle, and under the base
cylinder was a turn switch. Base and cap in silver instead of brass.
There
may be a variation (uncomfirmed) that has no switch, and has the base supported
on a metal stem that comes out the bottom and bends 90 degrees into the
walnut panel. A design like this would need sturdy support where the stem
attaches to the panel, else the cup/globe unit might get loose and swivel,
leaving it hanging upside-down and likely dropping the globe!
The
Regency
22"
tall version of Consort. Wider bottle and base/cap. Cap is stepped, slightly
art deco. Metal cap.
The
Empress
A
wall sconce version of the Regency, on the same lines and style as the
Princess. Base cylinder has twin stems for support, also has switch beneath
like Princess. Again, silver satin metal is substituted for brass satin
metal. Metal cap. The Regency and The Empress were known, together,
as The Royal Series.
The
Continental
Model
heated by a candle! Two versions; earlier style "pineapple" had bulbous
shape, mounted in metal "collar" at top and bottom, said by catalogs to
be available in red, green or yellow glass (see Variations notes below).
Later
variation "rocket" had all-glass base, shaped like cone on cone (wider
at middle), red green or yellow textured glass, with four metal "rocket
fin" legs attached to the sides, and metal collar at top. On both styles,
top collar has pattern of holes for ventilation; both lamps use Consort/Princess
bottle and cap. Once the candle in the base was used completely, a new
candle base had to be attached. On later style, the glass base unscrewed
from the top collar. On the early version, the glass base unscrewed from
the top collar, and the bottom collar also unscrewed, as it was kept when
the base was changed. Continental has silver metal. Continental sold as
the "Continental Gift Pack", which came with one bottle, base and collar,
and two candle units. Candle bases and globe units (bottles) were "color
coordinated"
Red
glass, red/clear
Green
glass, green/blue
Yellow
glass, "Champagne Mist"
The
Savoy
Same
as Continental; sold to resturant/nightclub trade. Same two styles depending
on age. Has gold metal instead of silver.
An
interesting note is that all models I have seen turn up so far on the market
- all two of them (these are VERY rare) - had a "pineapple" type base,
but on one the base was frosted white ONLY, and was not textured, and on
the other the base was clear smooth glass. It is unclear as to the exact
style, color and such of the real bases.
The
Imperial
The
infamous gigantic lamp! This huge model stood 47" tall. Its bottle was
a cylinder with a pointed-domed cap and a cone base cup. The base cup was
set into a 15" walnut "table", just wide enough for cocktails or an ashtray.
This table had as its support three long, tapered walnut legs, with brass
swivel feet. All metal was satin brass. Metal cap. Early catalogs say that
it has "white enameled metal". Perhaps this was changed, as the Continental
and Savoy base designs were, sometime into production?
Rumor
unverified: Collectors' rumor states that a 1960s lamp, unspecified as
to which one, contained a keywound music box that played a Peter, Paul
and Mary song. If anyone knows the truth on this, let me know...
All
these models plus Century available in:
Red/
Clear
Green/
Blue
"Champagne
Mist". Champagne Mist is described in catalogs as "A cream base (lava wax)
in a pale amber liquid - a truly enchanting combination"
Unknown
if Century was still available with:
Yellow/
Green/Blue
Red/
Green
Orange/
Yellow
One
of these plus two of the standard 1960s line colors became the three standard
1970s line colors.
for
additions and questions, contact Jonas Goo