lamp globe 04 by Editorial Zone
Published Date: 06/09/07
I have always been a fan of organic forms. I don't like straight lines. I don't use them in my paintings, I don't use them in the shapes of my canvas, and I don't use them in my crafts. If it were possible, I would have a house with curvy walls. Someday, when I have the money, I will!
This is why I have become such a fan of globe lighting. I love lamp globes, be they modern or antique. The first lighting fixture that I ever owned was an antique lamp globe. It was gorgeous. It had a curvy base that look like a woman's body and tapered to a skinny neck. The lamp globe itself was made out of multicolored glass. I would cast light and shadow all over any room. I took a high wattage bulb, too, so the effect was really powerful. Ever since then, I have loved to use the lamp globe to good effect in all of my rooms.
The great thing about globe lighting is that it so naturally reflects the form of light. After all, when you turn on a light bulb, it radiates out in all directions. People do all kinds of fancy things to shape light. They have square shaped lamps, labs with those awful triangular hats called lampshades on top, and Lamps in novelty shapes. To me, all of these are hideous. If it is not a lamp globe, I don't want anything to do with it.
One of the great things about using lamp globes is that they blend so seamlessly into any environment. Too many lamps try to have too much personality. Instead of providing light as they are supposed to, they try to use the light to show off their exotic shapes or colors. A lamp globe, however, is a humble piece of decoration. It's only desire is to serve its function. This is especially true of the modern lamp globe. It has been reduced to a sphere of glass and precious little else. If not for the cord running to the wall socket, it would be possible to imagine that the lamp globe is a magical sphere of light.
If you want to use the same design principles of the lamp globe in something a little bit more romantic, I highly recommend Chinese paper lanterns. They have that same spherical shape, but have festive colors as well. The slight flickering of the lamp lends a moody air to the whole thing. They really are beautiful when you want a more intimate look to your room.
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