Often considered a banquet lamp, these highly decorated and hand painted and fired milk glass lamps with matching vase and ball shade gained the modern common name of ‘Gone with the Wind’ lamps from the famous movie (filmed 1939).  Ironically the movie is set during the American Civil War (1860’s) thus pre-dating these lamps by some thirty-five years.  Their inclusion in the movie was by a well intentioned but uninformed

set director.  Never-the-less their opulence and stunning appearance in the movie has caused the name to stick.

This style of lamp, like no other, was made by many companies and only the design and patents of the removable fonts, and the brand marks on the cast bases identify the maker.  Artists either worked as exclusive employees of the lamp companies or glassworks, or the better known, by tender.  Those ‘starting out’ might have painted for any number of companies.  These artists would ‘move around’ as their reputation demanded greater payment.

These lamps typically had a globe shade, which was always painted to match the vase but they are known with a 10" dome shade.  Today lamps like these are scarce with their original shades are are much sort after.