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Featured Artifact
Ever wonder what kind of items get donated to the Johnson County Historical Society? Well you've come to the right page. Here is where we feature an artifact from our collection. Each month is a new artifact, so be sure to check back!
maddux of California television lamp
Donated by Francis James of Iowa City
At first glance, this ceramic swan figurine looks like it was purchased to enhance the décor of an individual’s living room. The electrical cord attached to the back gives a clue to another purpose. Turning the swan around reveals a small, 15-watt light bulb. The light, when filtered through the ceramic swan emits a soft glow—not much brighter than a night light.
In the 1950s and ‘60s, this little lamp would have been perfect to have on while watching television in the evening. This lamp was produced when television was still relatively new. Early TVs had small screens of 8 to 10 inches, the pictures were dark and fairly unclear. Because people had not been watching television for long, its effects on the eyes were unknown. Many people became concerned that watching television in the dark or sitting too close to the set would damage the eyes. The solution: small-wattage lamps that would give off just enough light so a viewer wasn’t watching television totally in the dark.
Most lamps were made from ceramic or glass because the translucent material would diffuse the light. Television lamps could be purchased in a variety of shapes and figures. Some of the most popular lamps were in the shape of birds, cats and other animals. Lamps would be an eye-catching decoration on top of a family’s television set (especially if it were a chartreuse panther as some were!).
Several companies made television lamps. This particular lamp was made by the company Maddux of California. A pottery company founded in the 1930s, Maddux was also well known for its figurines.
