Those are gorgeous. Probably limited to 60 watts or less due to little provision for ventilation. There should have been a sticker or plate stating the maximum wattage allowed. The maker's name would have been on this label. If the base is cast metal, it should have more value than one made of molded plastic. Molded plastic bases are less expensive to make and suited for mass production.

"You don't have to remove the previous stain to do this, and it'll just darken what's there, and it includes poly with the stain." weedyacres I agree...good advice. Polyshades or any urethane film-forming finish with suspended pigment may darken the banister or change the color enough to be acceptable. I have used this technique to blend boards that were too vivid in a finished floor. It takes a little skill and patience...you apply the product in a manner that will place just the right amount of product without causing runs and drips. If I was doing this, I would apply a thin coat of the product, let it dry and then apply another coat...let that dry...and proceed with more thin coats until I got the desired look. You do have to be careful to allow sufficient time between coats for the vehicle (solvents...oil or water) to flash off to avoid alligatoring of the finish film. I call the technique "dry brushing"...maybe that will work for you. weedyacres posts some good advice.

Gary and Emi's mother gave her a new stocking every year, and we put all of them out one place or another. Last year, we all got new stockings, musical ones! We hung those from the fireplace mantle. When my 'original' kids were growing up (I don't want to say my 'own' kids because Emi is my 'own' too, even though I didn't give birth to her) , anyway, when my first two were growing up, each member of the family had a stocking and we used it every year. Santa had always filled the kids stockings and left them under the tree, and as soon as the kids caught on, Santa started leaving stockings under the tree for Mom and Dad too. It always pleased and astonished me how generous my kids were. Mom and Dad always got Easter baskets too, once the kids were old enough to buy candy and fill them :-)

Yes you can. I did this as well and it looked fantastic. Unfortunately, my armandii was in a pot, a half wind barrel, and after 5 years it outgrew the barrel and I had to get rid of it since I did not have a place to plant in the ground.. You have probably already noticed the shoots break fairly easily but this clematis is such a vigorous grower it doesn't seem to be much of a problem. I did not prune mine I just let it go... the deer did some pruning for me. Wonderful vine... I miss it.