Mid Century Modern Frederick Cooper Adjustable Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp, c. 1970s
Viridian Eclection
The Lamp A refined American reading lamp by Frederick Cooper of Chicago, composed around a narrow telescoping stem, a weighted circular base and an elongated barrel form shade. The lamp rises from ...
The Lamp
A refined American reading lamp by Frederick Cooper of Chicago, composed around a narrow telescoping stem, a weighted circular base and an elongated barrel form shade.
The lamp rises from a substantial stepped circular base through a slender adjustable column, then turns into a curved arm that positions the light directly over a chair, a desk, a bedside or a reading surface.
The elongated half cylinder shade is made in brass with subtle banded detailing and an integrated toggle switch beneath the housing. The shade can be repositioned at the neck, and the telescoping stem allows the overall height to be raised or lowered according to use.
The brass is softly aged, unpolished, and the adjustable height with directional light preserves the practical intelligence of the pharmacy lamp form.
History & Provenance
Frederick Cooper established his Chicago studio in 1923, working first as a sculptor and watercolorist before turning his interest in form and material to lighting. The company became known for combining brass, glass, wood, ceramic and fabric in designs that ranged from traditional decorative lamps to streamlined modern forms.
The interior socket retains its original Frederick Cooper, Chicago maker's label, so the attribution rests on the label rather than on style alone.
This adjustable model dates to the 1970s and belongs to a family of brass pharmacy and reading lamps Frederick Cooper produced through the decade. A closely matching example is documented with an adjustable height of approximately 36 to 55 inches, and other Cooper pharmacy lamps of the period share the weighted base, curved arm, directional shade and projection of roughly 22 inches.
The lamp was photographed illuminated and was functioning at the time of photography.
Product Details
| Object | Adjustable pharmacy or reading floor lamp |
| Maker | Frederick Cooper |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Era | c. 1970s |
| Style | American Mid Century Modern, Hollywood Regency |
| Materials | Brass with weighted metal base |
| Marks | Frederick Cooper, Chicago label at the interior socket inside the shade |
| Dimensions | Approximately 36 to 55 in adjustable height, 10 in base diameter, 22 in overall projection |
| Shade | Approximately 13 in wide by 4.5 in deep |
| Controls | Integrated toggle switch beneath the shade |
| Adjustment | Telescoping height with directional shade |
| Light Source | Single tubular incandescent style bulb |
| Condition | Good vintage condition with natural brass patina, light oxidation, surface marks and age related wear. No obvious dents, losses or structural damage visible. Working at the time of photography |
Why It Belongs in Your Home
Its narrow footprint slips beside a sofa, a lounge chair, a desk or a bed without surrendering useful floor space.
More to the point, the adjustable stem and the focused shade make it genuine task lighting rather than a decorative object in which illumination was an afterthought.
The unpolished brass gives the lamp warmth and visual depth, and lets it sit comfortably among antique furnishings, modern upholstery, dark woods or more restrained contemporary interiors.
Every piece is packed with professional-grade materials: multiple foam layers, double-boxing, directional and fragile handling labels. For large furniture we use custom timber crating. We photograph packing before dispatch and can provide images on request.
White-glove delivery is complimentary within 100 miles of Reno, NV. National shipping quotes provided at checkout. All shipments are photographed and documented. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; we provide all documentation needed to support your claim.
Local pickup is available at Viridian HQ (Reno, NV) with 2–4 days notice. Contact us to arrange. Private viewings also available.
All antique and vintage items are sold as described and all sales are final. Each listing includes detailed condition notes and photographs so you can make a fully informed decision. We encourage buyers to ask questions — about condition, dimensions, finish, provenance — before purchasing.
Antiques are irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind. Carrier handling is outside our control once a piece has left our facility, and major carriers including FedEx do not insure antiques. We do everything within our power to ensure safe transit, but cannot accept liability for carrier damage. If damage occurs in transit, we will provide full documentation to support your carrier claim.
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