vintage panther lamp

vintage panther lamp with reproduction atomic 2-tier shade
main tier: charcoal
top tier: rust
pattern gold and black waves

1950s panther lamp & shade

Vintage replica Atomic 2-tier fiberglass lampshade (medium size = 13″ diameter) on an original 1950s panther lamp. The glazed ceramic crouching or stalking black panther lamp is an iconic 1950s-era MCM lamp design and was made by more than one manufacturer, with variations on the theme. The sleek panther lamps were generally small and used primarily as accent lamps or TV lamps, but larger variations were made, as well. Some versions even incorporated a planter in the base.

Ideally, the lamp base has a brass neck (usually 1/2″) between the top of the base and the bottom of the socket. The neck provides a neutral zone for the bottom of the shade to sit so that it isn’t so low that it covers up the base, but not so high that the socket is revealed. How the shade “sits” will change depending on how high or low the panther lamp base is placed. For example, if the lamp is set on a low table, like a coffee or end table, you might might want the shade to sit a little high on the neck, so that the top of the panther figurine isn’t obstructed. Conversely, if the panther lamp base is placed high, as on a bureau, you might want to cheat the shade down a little so that the light socket and bulb aren’t visible from the higher angle of site. Some panther lamps don’t have a proper neck, but they might have a tree stump extending above the figurine that can be used in place of the neck to seat the shade.