ArcticArtique

Yesterday's World

The year was 1961. Rock and Roll was the new craze. Kids were growing their hair out. Hippies would soon come to be. Vietnam was just a couple of years away. Civil unrest was on the horizon. The sexual revolution was upon us. We still went to the park and played baseball every day.

National Geographic was a household name. Everyone had a copy of this one of a kind magazine with stories of far off wondrous places and peoples. It contained photography like we had never seen it before. 1961 was a different time. Simpler and much more naive.

Pong hadn't come along yet. No smart phones and no search engines. We did our research the old fashioned way, with encyclopedias, world maps and globes. Just about every kid had one.

This beautiful and one of a kind standing floor lamp takes us back to that far away time. The sleek floor stand was a cast off. Someone broke the socket and it's original shade. Rather than repair it, they threw it away so more money could be spent. They were tired of it anyway. The unique lamp shade is fashioned from a 1961 National Geographic world globe that was found at a local thrift store.

The socket was replaced and wiring checked to ensure all was still in good condition. Kitties unique vision created the wonder that you now see. The continents with their borders lit remain today as they were then. Only the imaginary lines and the names within those lines have changed.

Much has changed since this globe graced the desk of some youngster. The 60's are gone but not forgotten. They will always be with us as long as this small version of Earth remains. This is simply a joy to look on and imagine you are an astronaut looking down on this beautiful third rock from the sun.

From the vintage world globe to the realistic moon which was fashioned from an old Christmas ornament, this work embodies beauty. Not wanting to let Antarctica become lost after being removed, the lamps base has been beautified and became it's own work of art. Decoupage, glitter and stained glass paint give the ocean serene and surreal look. The vintage hanging crystals complete the victorian feel of this one of a kind, never to be duplicated masterpiece. Even the stylish metal rods that make the lamp have been properly Artiqued. From plain bronze paint to a three dimensional look with depth and feel, the artist painstakingly worked to find just the look and feel to complete this wonder.

There will never be another quite like 'Yesterday's World'. The Victorian style and grace of our creators mind show themselves on every surface of this old globe and lamp. The stars and planets aligned, the pieces fell into place, and this one of a kind wonder came to be.