Rare vintage Dodge/Sessions Hula Girl table lamp clock depicting a Hawaiian wahini or lady with lei in a hula dance pose. The internal motor gyrates her woven twine grass skirt to sway over her hips in hula fashion. With bakelite base housing the clock signed "Clock Movement by Sessions Made in the USA" and complete with original shade. The three-way switch offers independent control of the light and hula motion (light only, hula only, light and hula, or off).
With the promotion of Hawaii beginning in the 1920's when the first cruise ships began docking in Honolulu, the hula girl has been associated with Hawaiian hospitality. Hula girl lamps were originally produced starting in the 1940's in Chicago by Dodge, Incorporated, who specialized in trophies, cutlery, metal serving dishes, figurines, and more who are known for making the Oscar and Emmy awards and for the Rose and Orange Bowl. Cast in pot metal the lamps were finished in bronze and were later painted. More desirable and expensive versions had the addition of an electric clock. The hula girl has recently been reproduced and It is rare to find an original working version of these highly collectible vintage lamps.
Height of girl 13", base 8" deep x 9" wide.
Size: 25” h x 18” w x 18” d
L20961