Mathmos Lava Lamps

MATHMOS LAVA LAMPS

[See here for our Mathmos Lava Lamps Care Guide]

The Mathmos Astro Lava Lamp was the first lava lamp, designed and invented by Mathmos founder, Edward Craven Walker in 1963. Today Mathmos lava lamps are still made in their factory in Poole, Dorset in England, with the unique 'lava' formula devised and perfected by Craven Walker. Available in many retro 60s colour combinations with hand polished aluminium or zinc bases, Mathmos Lava Lamps cannot be beaten on quality, heritage or authenticity. The lava lamp is one of the most instantly recognisable symbols of the 1960s and 70s, when the lava lamp became the must-have item of homeware. No home was complete without a lava lamp in every room! The lava lamp perfectly represents the sixties era, mirroring fashion and culture of the time, with its bright, contrasting and clashing colours, surreal look and feel and it's 'space age' iconography.  

ASTRO LAVA LAMP

The Mathmos Astro Lava Lamp is the classic and most iconic lava lamp. The Astro lava lamp was the first lamp designed and produced by Edward Craven Walker in September, 1963. Back then, the company was known as Crestworth Ltd, and the first lamps were manufactured in West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset. The unique fluid design for the lava lamp was developed from a novelty egg timer, spotted by Edward Craven Walker in a pub called The Queen's Head in Ringwood, Hampshire in the mid 1950s. It was filled with an oily wax which floated to the top when the egg was ready. 

Following the Astro lamp in 1964 came the Astro Mini, which was later renamed Astrobaby. This was a slimmer and sleeker version of the Astro lava lamp and it's still available in the range today. 

The Astro lamp was stocked by Selfidges, (among others) and hit the shops just at the right time to be the home decor item of choice for the Swinging Sixties. Celbrities like Ringo Starr and David Bowie were photographed with lava lamps in their homes and recording studios and the lamp was used in the sets of many iconic TV shows like The Prisoner and Dr Who for its surreal and 'space age' design. "If you buy my lamps, you won't need drugs," said Craven Walker. Many more lava lamp designs followed and at the height of its popularity, there were 7 million lava lamps being sold every year. 

The Mathmos Astro and Astrobaby lava lamp available to buy at Atom Retro is made in England, using top quality spun aluminium for the base and cap, which is hand polished by British craftsmen to a high shine. The bottle for the lamp is made in a precision glass factory in Yorkshire using traditional techniques and of course, the unique 'lava' wax. The Mathmos unique lava lamp formula has brighter, clearer liquids and lasts longer than other lava lamps.  

TELSTAR LAVA LAMP

The original Telstar Lava Lamps were cylindrical in shape, but today the design is encapsulated in the iconic rocketship shaped lava lamp. With top quality zinc, which has been chromed, used for the legs and cap, the Yorkshire made glass bottle and the unique Mathmos lava liquid. As with all Mathmos lava lamps, they feature a bespoke bulb which is designed for heating the lava and directs the heat into the liquid of the lamp. 

Due to the liquid and other materials used in making Mathmos lava lamps, it is unfortunately not possible for us to deliver lava lamps to customers outside of the UK.