Crestworth/ Mathmos 60th Anniversary Editions

[lampfancy]

Just a heads up to collectors, this month marks the 60th anniversary of Crestworth/ Mathmos, and to mark the occasion Mathmos recently announced there would be 5 ‘collaboration’ lamps designed with recognised names in fashion, music, etc. in a limited edition of 600 for each lamp, with the first due to ‘drop’ from mid-day tomorrow and another lamp each week thereafter.




Unfortunately this seems a bit of a ‘fleecing’ at £130 per lamp, also since it doesn’t seem we will get to see the lamps ahead of time and I doubt many have deep enough pockets to buy every lamp it might be difficult to know when to ‘bite’. it would be pretty galling to buy the first lamp, only for a much better one to come along later, by which point you have overspent, or holding out for a better lamp only to be disappointed.



Anyway, link:

https://fb.watch/nkhkb7uC0y/

[MonsoonStorm]

Even the yellow ones are out of stock it seems. They have been out of stock before but ended up getting restocked, but the lack of a red option doesn't bode well for that particular colourway.  I have a red and yellow, I didn't get a blue though unfortunately.  From the look of the site I would imagine the yellow at least will be restocked at some point as it was last time, and in all honesty I wouldn't be surprised if they stuck with yellow purely because the red is harder to see.  The yellow is quite vibrant and looks amazing with the mirrored effect, the red still looks great but it isn't as effective.

My metallics are the only "rarer" lmaps that I regularly use tbh.  I really wish they'd add them as a regular option.  I guess there is too much potential for return due to "imperfections" so they are probably not worth having in constant stock.  They may well end up costing them money.  That kind of coating is never going to be perfect

I really do wish they'd offer the option to buy a single extra bottle of the limited edition lamps, only available when you first purchase it (even if it's limited to a single bottle per customer regardless of how many lamps they buy).  I often end up simply storing them away in case I end up damaging them, as I did with my yellow metallic when I knocked it over whilst cleaning >.<   I'm also conscious of the potential colour changes/breakdown of the lava over time, so it would be nice to have a backup bottle.

lampfancy said:

Echo the sentiment of nice bottle, but otherwise ‘meh’.



Shame they won’t introduce more colours for the metallic, it’s down to a single colour option now, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it quietly dropped completely in the not too distant future. 



Kind of wish I had got a red while they were still available…

[Paul]

Would be a shame to see the metallics go, it gives a great effect on and off. It’s a bit cheeky that you can only buy a full lamp however. I think a metallic Telstar would look so good.

The next one is planned to be Electric Blue, sounds like it could be good. I wonder how similar it might be to the previous blue Astro a while back when they used to have a little lip for the bottles to sit on.

[MonsoonStorm]

Next one planned?  By Mathmos?

[Paul]

Yeah, this weeks limited edition I mean. 

MonsoonStorm said:

Next one planned?  By Mathmos?

[MonsoonStorm]

oh cool, where did you get this?

[Paul]

Sorry, I should have linked before, this article poped up on my Google feed the other day:-

‘Ingrained in the fabric of British society’: the iconic lava lamp turns 60

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/oct/15/ingrained-in-t...

[MonsoonStorm]

Interesting.

May need to be on the ball this week after the publicity, given how quickly they sold out last week.

[MonsoonStorm]

New one is out and I grabbed one immediately, really like it.  Have to admit I'd have grabbed two if I had the cash:

"Our fourth limited edition 60th birthday Astro lava lamp is with renowned British photographer, publisher and film director Rankin. Rankin has chosen a blue version of our Astro Vinyl with his name and the words "LET THERE BY LIGHT" etched on the cap. The lava is aquamarine and blue, and a Rankin photograph of the lava features on the box. Rankin became known for his portraiture of bands, artists, supermodels and politicians, having photographed everyone from the Queen of England to the Queen of Pop. Through RANKIN Creative, he is best known for work that is on the cultural cusp and leading future trends: producing rule-breaking campaigns for brands and shooting music videos for the likes of Miley Cyrus, Rita Ora and Kelis. More about Rankin here.  "

[Paul]

Grabbed one also, looks good. Bit confused as to exactly what "The lava is aquamarine and blue" means however. 

MonsoonStorm said:

New one is out and I grabbed one immediately, really like it:

"Our fourth limited edition 60th birthday Astro lava lamp is with renowned British photographer, publisher and film director Rankin. Rankin has chosen a blue version of our Astro Vinyl with his name and the words "LET THERE BY LIGHT" etched on the cap. The lava is aquamarine and blue, and a Rankin photograph of the lava features on the box. Rankin became known for his portraiture of bands, artists, supermodels and politicians, having photographed everyone from the Queen of England to the Queen of Pop. Through RANKIN Creative, he is best known for work that is on the cultural cusp and leading future trends: producing rule-breaking campaigns for brands and shooting music videos for the likes of Miley Cyrus, Rita Ora and Kelis. More about Rankin here.  "

[MonsoonStorm]

On the box the lava itself looks slightly greenish and the liquid blue,  It may be something that doesn't come across too well in a photo perhaps?

The video looks like turquoise/blue though.  We'll find out next week I guess!  I'm actually kinda excited for this one :)

[Paul]

I thought it was blue/white at first but the box pic looks different. Exactly, will have to see :)

MonsoonStorm said:

On the box the lava itself looks slightly greenish and the liquid blue,  It may be something that doesn't come across too well in a photo perhaps?

The video looks like turquoise/blue though.  We'll find out next week I guess!

[lampfancy]

Well, that was fast… sold out in a matter of hours, not for me though, leaves me a bit cold.



Starting to look like I might end up passing on the whole thing, which is kind of a shame but then I’m not one to rush to buy special editions just for the sake of it when they don’t particularly do anything for me, not that I have deep enough pockets anyway.



Maybe they’re saving the best for last…