Why 50-Year-Old Lava Lamps Are Still Fashionable

Though they may have started as a groovy home accessory for British bookshelves 50 years ago, lava lamps continue to make waves as hippy home accessories, casting their colorful sheen on interiors the world over.

These '60s relics were originally created by a British company and were launched as an "exotic conversation piece" in 1963 with millions of models sold worldwide.

The design was developed by Edward Craven-Walker, a British inventor who took inspiration from an extraordinary liquid-filled egg timer he saw in a bar in the southwest of Britain.

Craven-Walker spent years changing the idea into a home lighting accessory, his belief in its great potential never wavering.

Christine Baehr, the inventor’s second wife, said that "everything was getting a little bit psychedelic." She added that "there was Carnaby Street and The Beatles and things launching into space and he thought it was quite funky and might be something to launch into."

Britain's "Love Generation" witnessed the close connection between the ever-changing nature of the lava lamp and the carefree spirit of the ‘60s.

The Astro Lamp, shaped like a sci-fi rocket, was Craven-Walker's first model. It reflected the technological creativity of the time. Other models – like the Astro Mini and the Astro Nordic – soon followed, becoming famous additions to Craven-Walker's Crestworth company.

Baehr shares an unforgettable moment when they were informed that Beatles drummer Ringo Starr had purchased one of their lava lamps: "That was a great, 'Ah we've made it,' moment," she said.

In spite of the collapse of British manufacturing, with many popular brands closing or moving to other countries, lava lamp company Mathmos has stayed at their factory in southwest Britain. Indeed, they are still using Craven-Walker's effective and efficient initial formula.

"I think it's really special to manufacture something that's been invented and made in Britain, in Britain for 50 years," said Cressida Granger.  Granger worked with Crestworth in 1989, renamed the company “Mathmos” in 1992, and earned sole proprietary in 1999.

The US rights to make lava lamps are owned by Haggerty Enterprises Inc. of Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

Granger embraced the second round of overwhelming success for Craven-Walker's invention during the ‘90s as a new generation of customers developed an interest in retro British trends. Soon rooms all over the world were once again brightened by the famous ‘60s design.

Lava lamps consist of two liquids with somewhat different density, designed to not mix. The heavier liquid stays on the bottom, but when heated by the light of the lamp, its density reduces and it floats to the top.

Craven-Walker, who died in 2000, left a legacy in the entertainment industry.  His lava lamps bagged roles in music videos and on television, appearing on '60s shows such as The Prisoner and Doctor Who.

Anthony Voz, a collector of Mathmos products believes that the motion within the lamp is remarkable. "The way that it flows, how it's anti-repetitive, how it's a mixture of light and chaos blending together. It kind of pulls people in and before you know it, you've spent 15 minutes looking at it."