The style of Art Deco typically conjures up images of such architectural masterpieces as the Chrysler Building and Radio City Music Hall. Or maybe you think of sleek Ruhlmann furniture. In all of these designs the lines are mostly straight and the shapes are symmetrical. Art Deco design gives an appearance of elegance and efficiency.

Art Deco lamps, however, show a more sensuous side of this design type. Especially the lamps that were created in the 1920′s and the 1930′s. These lamps were frequently seen with nude female figurines standing or lying next to the light globe itself. The bases for these lamps were made of materials like alabaster and marble. They were undeniably erotic and remind one of the Moulin Rouge in Paris.

In New York City, Ronson Art Metal Works produced Art Deco lamps with an Egyptian theme.  One example of this is the Egyptian Moon lamp, which is one of the many lamps from this period of time.  Some lamps were of Cleopatra herself.  Aladdin created Art Deco lamps with glass bases of female forms.

These erotic type lamps were not the only types of light fixtures which were produced during the Art Deco era.  Animals were also frequently used either in singles or pairs.  The most popular animal to be used were gazelles.  Designer Norman Bel Geddes produced lamps which resembled cobras.  There were also geometric lamps, whose shades resembled pyramids with rows of cascading steps.

Frankart lamps combined both the nude female figurines and the skyscraper or crstalline shaped shades. Sometimes a lone green figure would hold a flying-saucer-like disc of frosted glass; other times pairs of figurines combined forces to lift a cylinder or rectangle of soft light high into the air.

If you are decorating a room with Art Deco furniture, what better way to compliment it than with an Art Deco lamp?