Billy Haines on Ice

Let's start our weekend with a big dose of glamour... as in these wild acrylic Ice Sconces designed by Billy Haines. Although the faceted acrylic pieces were created in 1953 for the May house of Holmby Hills, CA, they seem reminiscent of 1930s Hollywood. I like that the facets are rather aggressive- it's like a combination of Joan Crawford's brash personality and Carole Lombard's feminine allure.

The sconces have been reissued as limited editions and are sold as opposing left/ right matching pairs.

(Contact William Haines Design for more information- (310) 289-0280)

William Haines Lamps on 1st Dibs

Dragonette Ltd. has just listed some unusual William Haines lamps on 1stdibs.com. Made for Armand and Harriet Deutsch, the table lamps incorporate Chinese figures on wooden bases. The green painted lamp contains rather ancient looking terracotta Chinese figures that, according to the site, represent the zodiac signs of the Deutschs. The other lamp has a white base with blanc de chine figures and is more "stylized" than the other one.









William (Billy) Haines was one of the most prominent decorators of the 20th c., although much of his work was concentrated in the Los Angeles area. Haines spent his early days in Hollywood as a silent film star, but when his career stalled he chose to pursue interior design. Haines' glamorous style was a perfect fit for the Hollywood stars of the 1930s; in fact, Joan Crawford was one of his earliest and most ardent devotees.

Haines was known for incorporating custom-made lamps and lampshades into his interiors. Many of the lampshades were a bit over the top. The excessive fringe and pom-poms on the shades seemed to have been phased out early in his career. The custom-made lamps, usually Chinoiserie in style, were a constant throughout the years.

I thought I'd share with you some images of his lamps that I found in Class Act: William Haines, a really thorough book that highlights some of Haines' most striking interiors. As you can see, the elaborate lamps and shades from his early career gradually gave way to a more sophisticated look.