Lighting Ideas

It seems odd that an oil lamp might be made from wood (since oil and flames tend to burn wood), but this little lamp doesn’t look too much like it’s ready to burst into flames. (There’s an insert that sits inside the wood.)

Made by a wood turner, the lamp features a glass insert and a fiber glass wick, which are meant to burn paraffin oil. Burn time is 2 hours between refills, just about right for an evening of mood lighting. Available in black walnut, cherry, or butternut, the oil lamps cost $16 a piece or $28 for a pair.

From http://www.eclecticwood.com

I’m a sucker for oil lamps (which is probably obvious… how many other blogs do you know with a category devoted to them?), and I’m always interested when designers come up with ways to give them a new twist. After all, oil lamps are pretty basic. Their operation hasn’t changed a lot over the years. So, these wall-mounted lamps caught my eye. They look just like they’re on the ends of poles jutting from the wall, don’t they?

Named the Cylo Wall Oil Lamps, they were created by Erik Couzy and are available from Dutch by Design for $50.

“This stylish wall-mounted oil lamp is ideal for casting a subtle glow across the room. Made of highly polished steel, Cylo maximises illumination from a tea-light, creating a brighter more enticing effect. With a few positioned here and there you can create the perfect setting for parties, seasonal gatherings or just a relaxing night in.”

Here’s a gift idea if there’s a frog lover in your family (hey, don’t look at me that way… these people exist). The Frog Prince oil lamp is made from hand-crafted ceramic. The frog’s crown hides a 5 inch fiberglass wick, and his belly serves as the reservoir for the lamp oil (according to the company, it can hold enough to keep him glowing for weeks). This is a lamp that is a distinctive decoration even when it’s not lit. You could keep it inside, but I think it’d be a fun addition to a garden, especially if you do outdoor entertaining and often have people over in the evenings.

The little frog lamp will run you $24.95, which includes 2 replacement wicks. You do need to buy the oil separately ($6 for 22 ounces).

Frog Prince Oil Lamp

Looking for a Christmas gift for someone who loves candles and oil lamps? This gladiolus oil lamp is something I haven’t seen before. The flowers aren’t real, of course; they’re silk, but that just means they’ll last. The smokeless lamp costs $48 at Red Envelope and comes with 24 oz. of paraffin oil and two wicks.

They say that in flower language, the gladiolus represents love and remembrance, so maybe this should be a gift for a special somebody.

Where does one shop for the finest in outdoor lighting accessories such as oil lamps? Why, Target, of course.

I found this Smith & Hawken oil lamp on sale there for $15. At 5″ high and 7.2″ in diameter, it’s big enough and sturdy enough to put up with a bit of wind, so it can work outdoors as well as indoors. The top-shaped lamp has a bright copper finish (not sure how will this will last in the weather, so maybe keep it sheltered somewhat?) over a stainless steel body. The description promises it will steal the show on your patio or deck. At the very least, it’ll provide some neat candle lighting for your outdoor living area.

Here’s another oil lamp for my wish list. I’ve always loved the look of old-fashioned colored glass (sort of like those balls at the beach that are always entwined with netting and on display), and this oil lamp reminds me of that with its green glass. It’s a find from Pier 1, which is one of my favorite stores to just browse around for knick knacks that I don’t need. This particular oil lamp is designed for outdoor use (I’m not sure what the difference is between an indoor and outdoor oil lamp, but the description is quite adamant that this not be used indoors), and with a price tag of $7, I’m not going to be fussy.

Pier 1

Some of the lighting we look at around here is just plain silly (ahem, floating solar crocodile light, anyone?), but then there are some truly elegant pieces, such as this hand-crafted glass oil lamp. The Lexington is the work of Glass Dimensions, a group of Massachusetts artisans that specializing in crafting glass oil candles, oil lamps, and other glass gifts. The Lexington lamp stands 11″ tall and would make a nice centerpiece for your dining table. There are a few different versions of the oil lamp, and the prices start at $74 (you have to buy the oil separately).

Glass Dimensions

I’ve always liked candles and oil lamps. Oil lamps aren’t quite as commonplace, so that can make them a little harder to find. Maybe that’s why I like hunting these things down on the Internet. This oil lamp is hand-crafted in the style of a 5th Century Tunisian lamp in patinaed bronze. If you don’t tell your guests, maybe you could pass it off as a genuine antique. Even if no one is fooled, it’d be an interesting piece of history for the living room. And it’s an oil lamp, therefore cool by default.

Tunisian Lamp

I’ve always liked fire. Maybe that’s not something I should admit to, but it’s true anyway. In the world of lighting, that means I’m drawn to oil lamps. This “tabletop fireplace” is something new and kind of cool. The contemporary look of the stainless steel “logs” makes it a little more interesting than your standard oil-filled prism with a wick. I’d love to have one of these lamps for a table or a shelf in my living area. Alas, at $340, it’s a little more than I can dig out of the couch cushions right now (I need to start having more affluent people over to leak change into the creases of my furniture.)

Table Top Fireplace