Q: I would like some information about a TV lamp that has been in my family since the 1950s. It’s a figural leopard designed by Leland Claes in 1956. If I decided to sell it, what would a fair price be?

A: Figural TV lamps were popular for one decade, the 1950s. Television sets were being purchased by families across the country, and many people thought watching TV sets without indirect lighting could harm their eyes. Leland Claes (1916-2000) of Turlock, Calif., designed a lot of TV lamps shaped like cats or dogs. The majority of Claes lamps were manufactured by William H. Hirsch Manufacturing Co. of Los Angeles. The lamp sat on top of a TV set and shed light through the animal’s eyes or open back. Most Claes TV lamps sell for under $100, but yours is extremely rare and could bring 10 times that if it’s in perfect condition.

 

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