Art Nouveau Brass Piano or Desk Lamp, Circa 1900
A particularly charming early 20th-century Art Nouveau brass piano or desk lamp, beautifully designed with flowing botanical forms and retaining its adjustable shade and articulated fittings.
Dating to approximately 1900–1920, the lamp is a wonderful example of the organic design vocabulary associated with the Art Nouveau period, where conventional architectural forms were replaced by sinuous lines inspired by flowers, leaves and growing plants.
The lamp rises from an unusual sculptural brass base formed as a series of overlapping leaves. From its centre emerges a slender, elegantly curved stem, embellished with a beautifully modelled scrolling foliate branch.
The stem sweeps upwards before curving over to support the original-style elongated brass shade.
The shade is particularly attractive, with its gently undulating edge and applied floral decoration. A stylised flower sits prominently upon the front, surrounded by scrolling leaves that follow the contours of the brass shade.
Small beaded detailing around the end of the shade provides a further decorative flourish.
Both the lamp head and supporting stem are articulated, allowing their position and angle to be adjusted. This was an important practical feature of lamps of this type, enabling the light to be directed towards sheet music, a writing desk or reading material.
Originally conceived as a practical task light, its compact proportions make it equally useful today as a desk lamp, piano lamp, library light or atmospheric table lamp.
The brass has been carefully cleaned while retaining subtle variations and signs of age within the more deeply modelled areas, allowing the decorative detailing to remain beautifully defined.
The lamp has subsequently been professionally rewired to current UK standards and PAT inspected, making it ready for continued use.
A wonderfully decorative little lamp combining the practicality of an adjustable task light with the wonderfully fluid botanical design of the Art Nouveau period.
Dealer's Comments
This is exactly the type of small antique lamp we enjoy finding because there is considerably more detail to it than initially meets the eye.
The base alone is particularly lovely. Rather than using a conventional circular foot, the designer has created an organic arrangement of overlapping leaves or petals from which the lamp appears almost to grow.
That botanical theme continues throughout the piece, from the curling foliate decoration running alongside the stem to the beautifully modelled flower and scrolling leaves applied to the shade.
We particularly like the contrast between these decorative Art Nouveau details and the lamp's original practical purpose.
The adjustable stem and lamp head allow the light to be directed exactly where required, making this a genuinely useful antique rather than simply a decorative object.
Its relatively compact proportions would make it particularly attractive on an antique writing desk, beside a favourite reading chair, upon a library table or, of course, positioned on a piano.
As with all antique lighting passing through our workshop, the lamp has been carefully cleaned before being fully rewired using appropriate modern components and PAT inspected to UK standards.
A beautiful and practical piece of early twentieth-century lighting which is ready to be enjoyed once again.
Date
Early 20th Century
Circa 1900–1920
Period
Art Nouveau
Origin
France
Material
Brass
Condition Report
Presented in very good antique condition.
The brass has been carefully cleaned while retaining the character and subtle surface variation associated with its age.
There are minor marks, scratches, rubbing, small areas of discolouration and age-related surface variation throughout, as should be expected from an antique lamp of this period.
The decorative floral and foliate elements remain particularly crisp and attractive.
The adjustable fittings are operational, allowing the position of the stem and lamp head to be altered as required.
The lamp has been fully rewired to current UK standards and PAT inspected prior to sale.
As with all antique electrical items, we recommend that installation and continued use comply with the electrical regulations applicable in the purchaser's country.
Please study all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition report.
Measurements
Height: 25 cm / 9.84 inches
Width: 17 cm / 6.69 inches
Depth: 20 cm / 7.87 inches
Weight: 1.7 kg / 3.75 lbs
Shackleton Fox Antiques specialises in antique lighting, decorative antiques and timeless pieces for country house and classic interiors.
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