A portable stand for an articulated arm that carries a device, such as a lamp. The stand includes a post having a lower end with a plurality of support legs for supporting the post freely on an underlying surface and an upper end having a bushing. The articulated arm can be mounted on the upper end of the stand by inserting a lug of the articulated arm into the bushing. The stand also includes means on an upper end of the post for ensuring that the articulated arm is positioned in vertical alignment over one of the support legs of the post. Thus, as the articulated arm is fully extended in a lateral direction from the post, the center of gravity of the articulated arm remains over the support leg thereby permitting the stand to remain stable.