Rustic-but-Classy Moose Lamps and Light Fixtures

No doubt a moose's mother thinks it's cute, but frankly, the noble moose looks like a Jurassic Park casting call reject to me. Impressive, yes, even iconic of the North American north woods. Beautiful, not so much. And to be equally frank, there are one heck of a lot of ugly moose lamps in the world... but they don't need to be! Believe it or not, lighting fixtures that feature this huge wild animal can be downright elegant in a rustic style.

But there are also some real beauties.

Elegant moose silhouette lamps and tasteful woodland scenes, natural materials and vintage styles, even Tiffany stained glass moose lamps and light fixtures!

If you're decorating in country hunting lodge style, and you've chosen a moose theme, either for your cabin or for your home, there's no need for you to live with a fug-ugly moose lamp.

Take a look at the lovely lamps and light fixtures showcased here - you're sure to find a moose to love... that is, assuming you're already inclined to feel affection for an over-sized prehistoric-looking northern mammal with hunched shoulders, a big nose, and a giant rack of antlers.

Some of the tabletop lamps I've seen in the outdoorsy north woods kind of theme are... how shall I put this? They are more humorous than decorative, more the kind of décor you might like to have around for a weekend at the camp, but perhaps not to have in your home, around you, day after day. That's why I've searched for lamps that rise above the folksy-joke approach to the wildlife theme and treat the magestic moose with dignity and, yes, almost elegance.

This hand-forged rustic lamp with an architectural bronze dark finish carries an antique-rawhide shade in an unusual squared-off pyramid shape with edges finished in whip stitch. It is a one-of-a-kind piece handmade in America.

I'd almost be tempted to cannibalize that one - swipe the lampshade to top off a simple wooden lamp, and turn the resin moose figurine part of it loose, into the wild of yard sales and secondhand thrift stores, or at least banish it to the camp.

With it's clean lines, this lamp has also got big potential for a more modern setting, in a somewhat ironic hipster kind of way.

You'll look long and hard for a moose lamp that has the folksy charm of this beautifully crafted rustic model, 60 inches tall with a neat 12-inch footprint, great for tucking into a convenient corner.

One feature I appreciate in a floor lamp is a three-way switch that lets you adjust the level of light to suit the mood you want to create, from brighter for family games night to a more subtle ambient light for those cosy evenings around the fire, just the two of you...

Striking wall-mounted low-profile shades in solid copper measure 8 inches wide and 6 inches deep - you can choose from two different lengths, either 18 inches or the 12.75-inch version shown here. The outdoor fixture is included, so you can install it for use indoors or outside.

Drop ceiling, swag and pendant lights - chandeliers, to the high-toned among us - or more discreet (and easier to dust) flush-mount lighting that hangs out near the ceiling, it's your choice.

There is so much variety out there, when it comes to choosing a ceiling light fixture in a moose theme, and much will depend on what direction you're taking - on how far to the rustic side you want to take your woodsy lodge décor. Personally, I lean toward the Tiffany styles...

Reading up on the history of the Tiffany Glass Studio of New York and the gifted but eccentric Louis Comfort Tiffany (after I inherited a modest early-1920s pendant lamp made by that company), I've become enthralled by the rich colors of many of the designs.

But a Tiffany style piece is about a whole lot more than the beautiful hues of shining glass - equally important to the style is the way the leading or metal overlay works to accentuate the design. Some of the most striking works are those that rely on silhouette shapes for their impact, not simply the colors - and the moose is a strong form that lends itself to this art - a live-with-able blend of elegance and whimsy.

It's not a Tiffany design, that last one, but another timeless take on the moose silhouette with a tapered rectangular shape that's reminiscent of some of the glass shades found on table lamps and pendant lights from the turn of the 20th century into the 1940s. I've got a few ceiling lights with similar shades (only without the moose motif) that were made during the war years.

After looking at all these designers' and artisans' interpretations of the moose as a decorative motif, I thought it might be fun to sit back for a few minutes and enjoy the wild animal on video, while you ponder your lighting selection. Enjoy!