Modern Floor Lamps: 1960s Lava Lamps Review

The lava lamp has survived the 1960s to become a style icon. Whether out of nostalgia or for their soulful retro look, they are still in vogue today.

In terms of interior design the 1960s and 1970s were not decades that particularly made a positive impact. There is however one 1960s piece of decorative kit that holds a special place in my heart. I am referring to the omnipresent lava lamps. Their viscous lumps of wax came in a variety of psychedelic colors. You could find them in purple, lime green, pink and yellow amongst other shades. Lava lamp would become my main focal point whenever there was one around.

Whenever I was in a room with one, my attention went to it automatically, as if I was hypnotized by the suspended, vibrantly colored. I found them to be a completely innocuous pleasure and rather relaxing, especially if combined with Indian music and the scent of burning incense.

People my age buy the lava lamps that are manufactured nowadays out of nostalgia while youngsters are attracted to their retro look. They may be considered tacky and ordinary today but I find them curiously soothing. Maybe it is because they were invented in more buoyant times.

They are still being made today, bought by my generation for reasons of nostalgia and by young people who love the retro look of them. I know they’re trashy and unsubtle but there’s something strangely comforting about them. Perhaps they represent a more optimistic age. I may even possibly purchase one though it would not really sit in well with the rest of my décor. I guess it could be a curio or period piece, depending on how tongue in cheek I’m being when justifying it to my surprised friends who buy all their home deco gear from Ikea. Maybe it is not such a great idea after all: I probably wouldn’t get much work done if the trance-like state they used to put me in is anything to go by.

Nowadays you can also buy Plasma Lamps, but they are colder, soulless and far less personable than the good old lava lamp. My all-time favorite lava lamp color is purple as they make me think of Jimi Hendrix’ Purple Haze. Maybe psychology students should look at the links between someone’s favorite lava lamp color and their personality.

Craven Walker, the inventor of the lava lamp, chanced upon his discovery by accident and would not have had any idea as to his invention future cult status. Though lava lamps are harmless fun you should always read the manufacturers instructions: it proved a tragic mistake for a young man back in 2004. He was so eager for his lamp to come to temperature that he placed it on top of his stove to speed things up: the glass casing exploded and he was killed by a shard of heart that went straight through his heart. I have also heard of DIY lava lamps but this doesn’t sound like a very safe thing to do at home!

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