Posted by Betty on Jul 17, 2012 | 0 comments
Porcelain Warehouse Shades Still Hanging Tough in New York
If you read yesterday’s The Barn Light blog, you know how we love finding cool lights in unexpected places. Like in an airport gift shop. In the neighbor’s back yard. Or would you believe an old, abandoned mental institution? We barn light devotees will stop at nothing to photograph interesting lights!
It is truly special to find vintage lighting still hanging where it was originally installed — to see the space for which it was intended and to see the condition of the fixtures themselves. On a recent trip to Long Island, New York, we stumbled upon the remains of Pilgrim State Hospital which holds the record for being the worlds’ largest psychiatric hospital. Built in 1930, the facility had a peak patient population of 16,000.
Barn light warehouse shades were beginning to be manufactured at this time and were an obvious choice for this institution which had at least two dozen buildings. The wide span of directed light from these fixtures could illuminate any room, work station, or patient treatment area. The porcelain enamel finish on these vintage lights was extremely durable and even now, after years of service, these lights still look great. The ceiling may be falling down around them, but these warehouse shades are hanging tough!
These lights look very much like our 12″ Vintage Cord Hung Warehouse Shade which is part of our collection of Vintage Warehouse Shades. This American made fixture is mounted with a standard black cord and features the classic green porcelain exterior and a bright white porcelain interior and, at less than $100, would serve as a focal piece of history over a dining room table, in a workshop, or in the kitchen.
And if you love the vintage look but prefer a brand new light that can be customized to your space, check out our entire collection of porcelain Goodrich™ gooseneck lights, Benjamin™ stem mount, and Ivanhoe™ cord hung pendants. These are all hand spun by our own craftsmen, and with their tough enamel finish, will provide a lifetime of use!
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