Claire's cosmic lamps

A weekend spent watching Alfred Hitchcock’s boxset spawned my love of all things modernist. Although known for his leading ladies, it was his lovely lampshades that got me all a flutter. Much scouring of the internet later I discovered that due to an archaic law (that states if a property had been unoccupied for more that 40 (ish) years its contents can be sold at a market) Berlin’s markets are awash with such treasures. One boyfriend’s birthday present later, I came across these beauties below at the Friedrichshain Sunday market. Flowery sixties pattern, spaceship wooden legs, an irate easyjet baggage handler… I’ve been beamed to a retro lampshade heaven!

Zoë says: Since I’m away, this thrifty find comes from my friend Claire Dowling, who’s a brilliant designer and an equally obsessed vintage-aholic… it’s a wonder we don’t fight when we go rummaging in junk shops!