Lucite Lamp Shines Brightly in Terms of Value

Q: I purchased this lamp almost 25 years ago. I would like to know who the artist is that made it. I tried to research; however, I was unsuccessful. The signature on the lamp appears to be “Frigber.” It’s a very tall Lucite lamp.

A: Lucite is a versatile material used today in interiors just as it was in 1937 when it became commercially available. Lucite is actually a brand name for a kind of acrylic resin developed in the 1930s by DuPont, basically the same as Plexiglas. You have a very impressive lamp emulating the Mid-Century Modern style. You mention you purchased your Lucite lamp with chrome fittings about 25 years ago, roughly 1998. You did not mention if you purchased your lamp new. (In 2002 there was a Lucite renaissance.) Or possibly you bought it used from an antique store. Famous designers of the 1960s included Karl Springer, Valdimir Kagan, Charles Hollis Jones and Gaetano Sciolari. Of course, these were certainly not the only designers of that era. We don’t recognize the designer but if your lamp is an original Mid-century piece, you have prize. We suggest you have your lamp appraised in your area for a more detailed evaluation than we can provide here. Mid-century Lucite lamps are quite fashionable and in demand. Depending on condition, they can command anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000, and possibly more.