In recent lighting gallery pictures that is being posted with fluorescent bulb using incandescent bulb as a ballast.

The concept is not new.  I have seen a web page that described the Cooper Hewitt Mercury Lamp using incandescent bulb as a ballast as far back in 1900's.  You can read this at James Hooker's site at The Cooper-Hewitt Era.

That light looks more like a mercury vapor style....basically a fluorescent light without phosphor I believe...