My Aladdin Lamp Collection: Model 23A Lehman's Exclusive Cobalt Bullseye (2013-2014)

 My New Lamp

Finding this lamp has made me so happy! I feel like it was a twice-in-a-lifetime chance. The first time would have been purchasing it at Lehman's when it was for sale back in 2013 and 2014. It was an exclusive made just for Lehman's! Unfortunately, I was not an obsessed collector at that time. Had I been, I would have snatched one up right away. Since that time, I have never seen one "in the wild" as they say. I have never seen one posted in the Facebook groups or at any of the Gatherings, for sale or for show. I thought I would never see one anywhere, and if I did it would not be for sale or I would somehow miss out on it in an auction or something. I don't know how many were made, but I have to think that it is no more than 200, but could possibly be even 100. I wish there was some way to find out, but it's not in any of our records. 

Totally out of the blue, I happened to see someone post it on one of the Aladdin Facebook groups. He was asking if anyone else had one. At the time, he didn't mention that he was planning to sell it. About a week later, I was even more surprised to see that he WAS selling it, along with a couple other lamps. By the time I saw the post, it had been up for at least a couple of hours. I messaged him right away and said I was very interested. I felt like the price he was asking was fair (only slightly more than what we had it listed for back in 2013/2014). It was even still brand new, never used and he still had the original box! I sent payment and he shipped it the next day! Thankfully, he double-boxed it with plenty of packing and it arrived in perfect condition.

The lamp is even more stunning in person! I only wish we could have more of them made. Several years ago, we requested the mold be sent to us from China. It was sent over on a container with other inventory and was said to have arrived at our Dalton warehouse. Unfortunately, no one claims to have seen it or knows anything about its arrival. China is certain it was shipped in the container of pallets we received. If it was, whoever received them probably had no idea what the thing was, and who knows what happened to it. It could have been discarded immediately, or stashed away anywhere in the dozens of rows of racking. When the warehouse moved to Hartville, we did end up finding things we didn't know we had that were Aladdin-related.

We got so hopeful about it being on one of those pallets, but unfortunately, it was not there. Again, if it was "discovered" by someone, it was likely that person had no idea what it was and it was likely tossed for scrap 😢. 

My Aladdin Lamp Collection: Model B Washington Drape, Amethyst Modification

 My New Lamp

This lamp was NOT on my list as I never knew it existed! It's not a true, valuable antique since it was modified. It is a Washington Drape with a plain stem, which was only produced as clear, amber, and green. Someone painted it the most beautiful amethyst purple and it is truly stunning! You would never know that it wasn't produced this way. Not only was the font painted, but so was the chimney! I've seen others done like this in either red or blue, but never purple. Not only is it purple, but it has an etched grape design! Tom said that it was done by Knight #1. For the life of me, I can't remember his name...will have to figure that out :). 

As with many of the lamps I've gotten recently, the way I acquired this lamp has an interesting story. It was at the 45th Easter Meet in Wooster. Prior to the show starting, we walked around to see what the other sellers had put out on their tables. Immediately, before we had gotten more than 10 feet away, I saw it...purple! I walked over and I knew I had to buy it! I didn't even know how much it was tagged for, but I think I would have paid almost anything for it. I picked it up and looked around, and guess whose lamp it was? My friend, Tom Sauro! Yet another lamp of his that somehow made it into my possession! Before saying anything, he said he'd give it to me for a price lower than the price on the tag. He's so nice! His lady friend, Carol Fanara asked to take a picture of me with the lamp because I looked so happy. 

For the rest of the show, I had the lamp behind our table for safekeeping. Later, a lady (wearing purple) stopped by and asked to see the lamp. Turns out, either Tom or Carol had told this lady that the lamp was going to be at the show, but apparently, I had beaten her to it! I was so glad I saw it when I did. I did feel a little bad and she seemed to make a joke of it at first...although she passed our table several times and every time, looked at the lamp and made a comment. I know she was disappointed she didn't get it.

When I got it home, it was like it was meant to be. It looked like it was made to go in my kitchen with my grape theme.

Click here to check out my entire photo album for this lamp.