The Planter props seen on the set of “I love Lucy” on the mantelpiece and on the ledge of the hutch between the kitchen and living room are frequently seen in the background in dialog scenes.

The pieces I have identified were sourced locally from California Pottery makers. The Stewart B McCulloch plume design planter is one that often caught my eye, an example of which is pictured below in green. This is actually a ceramic TV lamp. It has a recess at the back that holds a small light bulb and a cable to plug it in.

In some kitchen scenes you can actually see the back of it with the cable rolled up – it was only ever used as a planter on the show.

TV Lamps were common in the early years of TV to provide dim light over the TV set for viewing in a darkened room. This particular one is a California Pottery planter TV lamp in a semi circular shape, making it look like a larger planter but taking up only half the space. This made it useful as a prop to place on the narrow ledge of the louvered hutch on the “I love Lucy” set.

Collectors should search the TV lamp section on eBay or Etsy or similar auction sites. And also look for 1950’s California Pottery planters in the Pottery section.

Often seen on the same ledge is a Sierra-Columbia Planter from a company that also made tv lamps.