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Welcome to www.forgottengems.com

Hippie's Vintage Gallery/ Museum of Mid Century Design.

This website is a virtual showcase/ gallery of mid-century design and some of the worlds most vibrant products from the 1960s and the 1970s (and a few late 1980s too). It is an eclectic mix of all things vintage, curiously unique and intriguing. This site is very personal as it is a collection of items that inspire me, as a collector, this is what I admire and love. I am Anthony Voz.

These everyday vintage household products mirror their own era and perhaps speak for the vibrant times that they were originally created for. From vintage Original British Crestworth & Mathmos lava lamps, to pineapple ice buckets, to Chance handkerchief syled glassware, to Starburst styled vintage clocks, to dancing flowers, to French Glitter lamps, to even USSR glitter lamps to Fantasia fiber optic lamps, the USA manufactured Lava Lites there is something for everyone. The styles of the past decades were so distinctive that these products grace today in so many homes and are admired by people all over the world. Below you will find various images and links of the world's largest resources regarding lava lamp history.

A lot of these photos have come from ebay and from people over the years who have kindly donated these photos which have been saved . Some things in the gallery I own and some I really wish that I did, but all of it I really admire.

Thank you for looking at www.forgottengems.com

Anthony Voz | Please email: hippielight@googlemail.com

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Crestworth Traction Lamp

The Original Flow of Lava. www.flowoflava.com

Crestworth Ltd founded by Edward Craven Walker, the inventor of the original Astro lamp, now better known as the Lava Lamp, was also responsible for some of the most wonderful products in the 1960s and 1970s, such as lava lamps, glitter lamps and wonderful fibre optic creations.

This site takes you back in time to each part of Crestworth's history and the products that were created. Crestworth later became known as Mathmos and Mathmos still produced the Astro and other innovative lighting pieces today. This site also documents the history of Mathmos and the wonderful kinetic products that they have produced centric to the Lava Lamp concept.

www.flowoflava.com is the first and only website in the world to document the history of Crestworth and Mathmos products in this detail and is the universal archive of anything Crestworth and Mathmos orientated.

www.flowoflava.com was also the first website that I created in 2007. I created flowoflava in admiration for the Crestworth & Mathmos products that have been produced over the years, the for all the people who run the company and of course the wonderful story behind decades of production of the Astro Lamp and its derivatives.

This is the original story of the original British lava lamp: www.flowoflava.com

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.

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Hippielight.com - The History of the "lava lamp"

Hippielight – The Original and first website dedicated to the history of the vintage USA "lava lamp", manufactured in Chicago USA. Hippielight.com is dedicated the wonderful creations and the wonderful lava lamps that were produced by the iconic Lava company in the 1960s and the 1970s. From the iconic Century, to the candle powered Savoy to the floor standing Imperial, there were designs to suit everyone. Come in and see why Hippielight.com is a celebration of 1960s & 1970s lighting and design at its best.

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.

 

 

 

 

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Rainy Presents: Rare Vintage Rain Goddess Light Brochures.


No mid-century & vintage website would be complete without Rain Goddess Lights.

These iconic lights in both table top and the more common swag variants were seen in home all over the 1970s, featuring the graceful motion of rain falling around an illuminated object (often a goddess), these lamps are distinctively beautiful and iconic of their time. A gallery of Johnson Industries brochure images.

Thank you to Scott for these images, whose family worked for Johnson.

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.

 

 

Highlights from May & Halas Vintage 1972 Yearbook ...


A 1972 yearbook for gifts, premiums and incentives. 812 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago, Illinois 60607

Highlights from a vintage USA 1972 Yearbook catalog. Featuring Poly-Opticals, Lava Lite, Starburst Clocks and everything funky and vintage. Take a browse at some of my favourite pieces inside ...

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.

 

 

 

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www.trippyglitters.com | Vintage Glitter Lamps from Around the World ...

Outside of the UK and the USA, Europe had a wide selection of glitter lamps, most notably France and Italy.

This gallery is dedicated to the wonderful lamp styles, the designs and the looks of these lamps. From bubble designs, to lamps with window style cut-outs there is something for anyone in here. A big thank you goes to my friend Fog who collects these and actually introduced me to these models. I would have never known about them if he hadn't have shown them to me.

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.

 

 

 

A Vintage Theatrical Glitter Lamp. Take a walk down Infinite Avenue.

A wonderful glitter lamp, that reminds me of a theatre show. The back of the lamp is lined with an infinity pattern of trees that make you look like you are looking into an avenue in a forest. This wonderful glitter lamp is a very beautiful piece and the following images show the lamp, construction and of course the lamp's beautiful effect. Thank you to Bohdan for the images.

So take a look at this charming glitter lamp, which simulates walking down an avenue in the Winter snow.

These pieces are truly remarkable pieces and extremely well made.

Many thanks to Bohdan Rudy for these wonderful images.

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.

 

A stunning pair of Vintage Florence Art Co. Glitter Lamps

These wonderful vintage glitter lamps owned by fellow collector Bohdan Rudy are in pristine shape and are wonderful pieces of design. The Florence Art Co. was also based in Chicago just like Lava Lite, who brought the lava lamp to the USA.

These designs feature beautiful flake glitter slowly swirling around in coloured liquids. The bases feature an ornamental scroll base design and they are complete with the tags. Many thanks to Bohdan Rudy for the wonderful photos.

 

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.

 

USSR Glitter Lamp Example – From Russia with love.

Did you know that Russia produced a range of Lava & Glitter lamps in the vintage years. Here is a great example of a wonderful design that I really admire. They are distinctively unique in their design. Enjoy.

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Mini Gallery: Vintage Flower Power Lamps

These vintage lamps often feature flowers inside them instead of glitter or lava and sometimes with an ashtray on the top.

Often seen for sale in France.

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LUC Vallauris Glitter & Lava Lamps Mini Site

A small page dedicated to the weird and strange world of LUC Vallauris Glitter and Lava Lamps. These weird little lamps originate from France with unique bases and caps that are often colourful, textured or glossy and just so very distinctive. Take a look at some of the styles we have seen hanging on ebay.

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.

 

 

 

 

Fantasia – The world of beautiful fiber optic lamps.

Fantasia were the premier manufacturers of fiber optic lamps in the USA, producing beautiful well crafted pieces with glass fiber optics. Founded in the 1960s, Fantasia produced some of the most beautiful home ware pieces on the planet. They also had an intriguing range of glitter products – such as the Glitter Graphics series and also the Cosmic Window.

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.

 

 

 

 

Vintage Australian Fiber Optic Lamp.

This lamp caught my eye as a rather odd piece, with an elegant shape, clever construction and a red anodised body, this lamp is very distinctive and very elegant.

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USA Poly-Opticals Floor Standing Fiber Optic Lamp

Hobby Opticals was a great idea from Poly-Opticals, manufacturers of vintage plastic fiber optic lamps, these stunning kits could be assembled to create a great selection of wonderful different trees and fiber optic lamps. Such a neat idea.

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Vintage Fontaine Starlight 2000 Lamp

Hobby Opticals was a great idea from Poly-Opticals, manufacturers of vintage plastic fiber optic lamps, these stunning kits could be assembled to create a great selection of wonderful different trees and fiber optic lamps. Such a neat idea.

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.

 

 

 

 

 

Mid-Century Greatness: Vintage Grape Lamps.

Often seen for sale in kits or sometimes ready built, these wonderful vintage grape lamps were the ultimate fun to make and assemble.

Beautiful Lucite translucent and coloured balls are assembled to make a stunning lamp.

From swag to smaller table top designs (looking like a pineapple), these lamps and their colours are absolutely stunning. Please enjoy the gallery.

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.

 

 

2D to 3D Kits

The 1960s and 1970s had some of the most wonderful lighting, including some wonderful plastic shades. This gallery is dedicated to flat pack kits from the 1960s and the 1970s that created some wonderful products.

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Vintage Chance Handkerchief Vases


Chance was a British glassware manufacturer that created some of beautiful home-ware including vintage handkerchief vases in so many different styles and elegant prints. I love these pieces and they suit any home or any taste.

Perfect for storing or just by themselves they are really elegant.

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Vintage Mid Century Beautiful Wall Art Tile

This stunning mid-century ceramic tile is homage to beautiful colours and stunning ceramics from this period.

I love this piece, the texture and the beautiful coloured glaze.

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Vintage Mid Century Beautiful Peacock Tile

This stunning mid-century ceramic tile has beautiful colours and a stunning yellow and blue design. I love the simplistic line art that is powerful and unique.

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Vintage Minimal Elegant Table Lamp.

A clever vintage design for a table lamp. Love the dual coloured hats one in light blue and one in yellow, they cleverly slot on.

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Vintage Spun Lighting Silver or Orange.

Vintage Wall lamps that feature a stunning spun shaped design. I am wondering what other colours these may have shipped with, however in this gallery you can see

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Vintage UK Ice Buckets. Pineapple Deluxe ...

The UK was famous for wide selection of fruit inspired ice buckets in a wide selection of fruits. However, the most popular variation is the Pineapple, however the Pear, Apple and Orange designs are also quite beautiful.

Originally used for bars to store ice for drinks, these are now used as storage containers or just for show. Please enjoy the gallery.

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.

Vintage HOT-n-COLD Apple.

A beautiful anodised Australian hot and cold vintage bucket, used for storing hot and cold food. I love the artwork on the instructions and the wonderful colours of the item.

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American Vintage Swag Lamps.

Swag lamps were in fashion in the 1960s and the 1970s and came in all shapes and sizes, there are so many different kinds and textures. Please enjoy the gallery.

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage White & Yellow Spaghetti Lamp

A gallery dedicated to a stunning Mid-Century example of a spaghetti lamp. Love the yellow strands of the top, looks just like lemon drizzle.

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Vintage Table Top Lamp designs (starting with this wonderful lemon yellow design with an orange base).

A gallery dedicated to a stunning Mid-Century example of a spaghetti lamp. Love the yellow strands of the top, looks just like lemon drizzle.

Click on the image on the left to enter the gallery/ site.