Old Lamp Slides Into New Life With Gold Metallic Wax

The Found Lamp

This bronze-tone desk lamp was in my stash from years- YEARS- ago. I was never sure if it worked because I didn't have the proper size lightbulb. I love the shape and size, so it just sat in a bag in the storage unit, waiting for destiny to unfold.

Desk lamp, before

Yes, that's right, normal lightbulbs don't fit into the elongated dome and it never occurred to be to shop around for a custom size lightbulb. Turns out I didn't need to shop around, I just needed to wait (years) until someone was throwing out old, dusty, but unused lightbulbs. I found this.

Tubular light bulb

The result is that I tested the lamp and it worked, as one always hopes a lamp does! 

Working lamp!

Next was the makeover, since the bronze color was juuuuust a bit too dull for my preference.  Also there were some pitted bits, a dent on the top, and some other signs of wear which gave it a bit of a tired appearance.  

Detail of rusting

Detail of dent on dome

Detail of spotting/pitting on base

The Lamp Makeover

It was around this time that I *finally* decided to try out Rub n' Buff (RnB), which according to the blogosphere can do miraculous makeovers on tired furniture pieces.  I also had to decide between two colors of RnB that came in my sample pack.  In a small area near the cord I tried one coat of 'Antique Gold' RnB vs. 'European Gold'. I could see that the Antique Gold is much more yellow, and the European Gold was a more copper-bronze color which was too close to the original and not bright enough.

The difference between Antique Gold (bottom) and 
European Gold (top)

The difference between the original color and the Antique Gold RnB was even more striking on the top of the elongated dome of the lamp.

Original vs. 1st coat

Here's the entire lamp after one coat of RnB, already lookin waaaaaay better and brighter.

Lamp after first coat all over

You can see that the rusting on the top square part was able to be covered by the RnB.

After, no more visible rust

Top of the lamp dome after one coat of RnB. There was also a learning curve in how to apply the product, it help to do one thin coat and then walk away in order to let it dry fully - if you try to apply more product too soon you will just end up wiping off the first coat!

After 1st coat, dome looking brighter

Detail of the lamp base

Final product!

The final made-over lamp after 3-ish coats of RnB looks so much bright and just more cheerful. I'm pleased with the way this turned out, easier than spray painting and a bit more shine than I've seen from gold paint.  Expect more Rub 'n Buff freestyle makeovers in future.

Desk lamp after makeover with
Antique Gold Rub 'n Buff

Happy freestyling, don't be afraid to hold on to those useful little things. Minimalism doesn't always win over the practicality of knowing something will come in handy.

Tags: how to makeover a bronze lamp; bronze lamp makeover; rub n buff; using rubnbuff; using metallic wax to makeover a lamp; metallic wax on metal lamp; desk lamp makeover

Busy as a bee with a return policy

Of the things I find in frames, among all the family photos, movie posters, original artwork, and insects with beautiful wings, I would not have expected to find a store return policy.  Yet another surprise from le dump. 

Let me point out that it was not some simple 8x11 inch printout in a flimsy plastic frame. Quite the contrary, this was a poster-sized calligraphy version on vaguely marbled paper of what you should expect as a customer shopping at [store name omitted].  I don't know if I would have been intimidated or glad to see such a poster in a store.

Of special note was the fact that the glazing was intact and scratch free, and that the frame itself was quite sturdy. An odd bronzey color, but a solid frame nonetheless.  After the frame came home Creative Roommate got busy with her paints and paper and created this snapshot of a beehive interior.

Simple and elegant, I see no need to return this one!

Happy freestyling.

Freestyle on the road - Finds!

Just because I leave Cambridge doesn't mean I stop freestyling!  

While driving with my parents through a rather posh part of my home state we saw this sign for an Estate Sale (below).  

It might surprise you that I'm not a frequenter of Estate Sales given my enthusiasm for re-use, but three things have kept me back.

1. I have never been an early riser 

2. Graduate student budgets (and apartment sizes) do not lend themselves to the purchase of antique credenzas or heirloom jewelry

3. Not owning a car means many sales are un-reachable, even if I were organized enough to know when and where they were happening....

But all that doesn't mean I don't like to look if I serendipitously happen to come across a sale.  Turns out, it was the 2nd day of the estate sale and most of the remaining stuff was free, the house had been sold and the guy running the sale just wanted to get rid of stuff. Score!  

Mom and her free framed Monet poster

Some other passersby with their freestyle finds

The double score was that guy from the first sale told us that the house next door had put all their garage sale leftovers in the backyard for people to take. Surely an opportunity not to be missed.

Perusing the garage sale leftovers

"Garage sale leftovers" does not have the most glamorous ring to it, but some of the stuff was pretty nice.  I must also compliment the organizers for their well-arranged display of the goods on folding tables.  We weren't in need of lamps or clothes, but I did snag a few frames since I have a thing for those. I also grabbed a set of 6 little butter knives in a holder (ultimately those stayed with my folks since they couldn't fly with me), hopefully they will end up with someone who does a lot of entertaining and has a need for small utensils.

Mmmmm, garage sale leftovers

Corner detail of a funky art nouveau-inspired frame.

This experience just goes to show that it doesn't hurt to just pop in for a quick look.... you never know what freestyle finds await!

A bronze y-urn-ing

Can you tell what I'm trying to say?

Found: small bronze-color tripod urn, with 3 decorative lion heads on the outside


Location: Swap shelf

Question: Can you identify the mark or writing on the bottom of this mystery metal urn?

My guess for the lower stamp is some bird (eagle?), possibly double-headed.  The ovoid text stamp remains a mystery, I can't tell if the letters are from the greek or cyrilic alphabets, or what they say. Any suggestions?

Time for a bath.

From the quality of construction I'm under no delusions that it is of any value, likely some souvenir trinket, the grey stuff in the first photo is perhaps solder from where the leg section was attached to the round vessel part.  Despite these flaws, I rather liked the shape. It looked like it could be a cool little planter, and I'm always on the lookout for plant storage.

At right is a 'before' photo.  As you can see, it is a bit dinged up, with some mystery white residue in the small details of the lion heads and the design at the top of the legs. 

After a bath, some delicate cleaning attempts, and the application of a glaze to the inside and out, I declared it done enough.  Soaking and then scrubbing did not remove all of the white stuff, so I left it there rather than scratching up the metal in an attempt to remove it. C'est la vie. Or rather, c'est la métal.

The glaze made it look smoother, shinier, and hopefully will protect the inside from any plant water.  I added glaze because it did appear to be rusting on the inside when I found it, not very exciting, hence no photo.  But there you have it, a little urn and my new fragrant rosemary seedling.

These lions don't have to worry about thorns.

Guardian of good taste.