1001 Night Lamp
Dateca. 1940
Mediumplastic
Dimensionslamp: 6 1/2 × 2 3/4 × 3 in. (16.5 × 7 × 7.6 cm)
light attachment: 1 × 1 in. (2.5 × 2.5 cm)
box: 3 1/4 × 6 3/4 × 3 1/4 in. (8.3 × 17.1 × 8.3 cm)
light attachment: 1 × 1 in. (2.5 × 2.5 cm)
box: 3 1/4 × 6 3/4 × 3 1/4 in. (8.3 × 17.1 × 8.3 cm)
ClassificationsRecreational Objects
Credit LineAlbuquerque Museum, gift of Melissa Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ramsey
Object numberVPC2001.71.4.1-5
DescriptionThis vintage night light is designed to resemble a genie lamp, evoking imagery from the popularized tales of the Arabian Nights. Made in Hong Kong during the British colonial period, it is labeled the “1001-Night-Lamp.” The lamp features a blue marbled finish with silver-colored detailing on the handle and base, giving it an ornate appearance. Included with the lamp are three light filters—red, blue, and white—that can be placed above the bulb to change the color of the light. The original packaging is richly illustrated to resemble a starry desert night sky. Predominantly blue, the box features glowing stars, an image of the lamp itself, and the silhouette of a grand mosque beneath a bold yellow title. This object offers insight into the complex history of globalization and cultural representation. Though produced in East Asia under British rule, it draws heavily on romanticized and stereotypical imagery of the Middle East. As such, it invites reflection on how cultures are packaged, marketed, and consumed across borders—sometimes in ways that oversimplify or distort the cultures they reference.On View
Not on viewTerms
unidentified
ca. 1952
