Oh, we've always wanted to do this! We don't have a collection of matchbooks like Shauna and Stephen from Something's Hiding in Here, but filling this lamp with Pez dispensers, plastic toys, or any small, not-too-precious collectible sounds like a great idea...
Pretty sure you just remove the lamp harp and unscrew the socket to place your own collection inside. The heat of the light bulb won't be near the contents, so that shouldn't be a concern. See more delightful little details like this in Shauna and Stephen's Lively Loft House Tour, or at their website.
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finally a collection that will not gather dust.
lamp explosion!
I have to question the wisdom of basically wrapping an electrical cord with matches.
look at it this way, @greenish. If the matches ignite, the restricted opening will limit the oxygen and make the fire self extinguishing. I just love science....
BTW, where can I find that lamp?
Gosh, nothing seems like a better way to display your matches than in an electrified and heat conducive, combustible container.
You know what would look really great next to this lamp? A candy dish full of rat poison.
fun idea, but I don't collect small, easily displayed things. :( I used to have a cheap table with clear legs though that you could fill with stuff like this.
That's one use of I never considered for my phantom...
It's the Phantom from CB2.
It's actually completely open at the bottom.
a buddy of mine has hundreds of movie stubs in a cookie tin in his closet, I think that since that means a lot to him, displaying it like that would be awesome. Thanx for the idea!
I like this concept, probably because I pretty much like the look of anything massed in a glass jar ... or lamp in this case. I'm thinking that buttons would look fantastic...
I have to agree with greenish - were these people completely high when they did this?
Honestly, since people store collections in glass jars, not all that creative.
Perhaps we should give the homeowners a bit more credit and a bit less snark; might they not have a collection of matchbooks without the matches inside? Particularly if they're smokers?
I'd like this with wine corks.
I don't know where you guys are buying your lamps at, but if the cords get so hot that they might be an ignition source, I suggest you replace them.
I think this is charming - reminds me of my dad and his buddies ca. 1979. There were all manner of collections in all manner of glass vessels that had been wired up as lamps. I think it was related to some kind of carpentry effect...
I think it's cute. BTW PBTeen also has a cute display lamp.
this is great! yes I thought about lamp explosion too.
don't worry! our matchbook collection is just "matchbooks" - there are no matches inside.
shauna & stephen
I found a lamp at an estate sale - at a very reasonable price - emptied was in it and filled it with rocks and sea urchin shells I found at our favorite vacation spot. Great to hear what other people use to fill glass lamps.