Antique Mineral Stone Polished Serpentine Cornish Lighthouse Table Lamp.

Monumental Scale.

A form inspired by the Eddystone or Bishop's Rock Lighthouses. An elegant shape punctuated by horizontal 

incised lines. The chunky base left rough-hewn and craggy its chalkiness left natural & unpolished. 

Hand turned as souvenirs by local craftsmen their skills passed down 

through generations since the late 19th century.

Stone unique to Cornwall.

Cornish Serpentine is found at the foot of the Lizard peninsula, Britain’s most southerly point.  

It is uniquely coloured; green, red or grey with contrasting flecks and seams. Just soft 

enough to turn by hand on a lathe but hard enough to take a good polish. It has 

a very silky texture and takes on a wonderfully deep marble-like sheen.

No two examples are the same. Increasingly becoming quite scarce,

as the stone is no longer permitted to be quarried.

This specimen is exceptional, both in scale and in the quality, colour and grain of the stone used. The lighthouse 

is so large, the top third (hewn, then turned, from the same original stone block) has been spliced to the 

tower base with a seamless, solid, join masterfully disguised by one of the horizontal incised lines 

that punctuate the polished surface. It is only detectable by a slight break in the lines of grain. 

The stone colours shade from a rich, very dark oxblood red at the base which, higher up is 

pierced with fine strands and filaments of vivid green that becomes a denser swirl of 

green-over-red then more intense & lighter, turning to mottled shades of 

yellowish verdigris green, at the cap, its pattern resembling lizard skin.

An early example likely dating to the first quarter of the 20th century. Later examples tended to have 

less generous bases to avoid stone wastage. Here the base alone is colossal and 

weighty,18cm (7") in diameter and 7.6cm (3") high. 

The domed cap is also an indicator of an early date. Easier-to-turn conical caps later became the norm.

The lamp has an old recessed Bakelite small bayonet fitting with a clear glass sunken tube shade to protect 

the bulb. The stylish linen braided electrical cord & plug have been replaced to modern standards.

A wonderful impactful decorator piece.

For the smaller lighthouses and lighthouse lamps (some pictured) see my other listings.

In good, fully working condition. No chips, cracks or damage.

Wired to modern standards.

Height: 40⅔ cm (16ins). Base Diameter 18cm (7ins)

Weight unpacked: Approximately 6.5kg (1 stone 4⅘ Oz) 

The photographs constitute part of the description.

Always packed with care.