They Want You to See Kerosene Lamps in a More Romantic Light

The combination of earthquakes, hurricanes and Y2K fears about power outages has revived a onetime household staple. Aladdin lamps, first introduced in rural American homes before the advent of electricity, are making a comeback.

Furthermore, they earn their keep. While many people buy them for emergency use, the company is promoting them for everyday use. Bill Courter, president of the Aladdin Mantle Co., says many of his firm’s customers are pleasantly surprised to discover that kerosene light casts a romantic glow at parties and dinners. And, he says, these symbols of the early 20th century are easily converted to electricity. “You can plug in your lamp in the approved ‘Thomas Edison manner’ for everyday use. If the power goes out, you unplug it, unscrew the electric adapter, replace it with the kerosene burner, fill it with kerosene and you’re in business.”

Courter, a longtime collector, headed an investment group of collectors who recently bought the company from Aladdin Industries, the Kentucky-based company that has made kerosene lamps since the turn of the century. Aladdin now offers more than 45 styles, from economy models to collector-quality brass and hand-blown glass versions (prices range from $70 to $300).

The lamps are sold in hardware stores and by dealer-distributors nationwide. Information: (800) 456-1233 or online at https://www.aladdinlamps.com.

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Encore: Retailer Marny Maslon has opened her second Lily Henry Zoe store in Los Angeles. Her first, in Brentwood, is a children’s store. This one, in Venice, focuses on home and interiors.

Maslon calls them “boutique department stores” and says they share a sense of style. She’s showing off the new store, at 1354 Abbot Kinney Blvd., with an open house Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.

“I don’t do distressed and I don’t do antiques,” she said. “My furniture is new and I am definitely into strong colors. I think people are starting to get away from an older, funky look.”

One of her bestselling items is a “map table” shaped like the United States, with a shellacked map top. It can serve as a coffee table or a children’s table. She also carries the work of artist Jane Goren, who paints on glass.

Maslon, who studied photography at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and business at Cal State Northridge, is well-suited for running a design-oriented business.

She named her stores after her children and says the unusual name has been an asset. “Sometimes customers forget the order of the names and can’t find it in information. But on the whole, people like it.”

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Upcoming: NeoCon West, the trade fair for interior design, will return to the L.A. Convention Center next year, March 27-31. An extension of Chicago’s giant NeoCon trade fair, NeoCon West promises more than 300 exhibitors featuring furnishings, floor and wall coverings and lighting. The expo will be part of L.A. DesignWeek, a package of nine design events including WestWeek Festival 2000 at the Pacific Design Center, an open house at the L.A. Mart and West Hollywood’s DesignWalk 2000.