In the early days of television, people attempted to protect themselves from the new machines with bright talismans—creative lamps that provided back light that was believed to protect the eyes. These lamps took on fantastic forms, the most popular among them being panthers and other animals like Siamese cats. They came in any number of forms, though, and sometimes doubled as vases or planters. Herein nearly 400 photos explore the many forms of TV lamps, from a barnyard full of horses, roosters, ducks, and swans, to all manner of conveyances like boats, wagons, and cars, and an international collection of people and faces. Current market values are provided for the collector and antiques dealer.
