L.006

My very first pillar lamp, bought from Ara a few days later when my wife and I visited him (see Introduction - About me in General Information). This magnificent piece of a lamp is also the most expensive lamp in my collection. It must be a rarity in its style with hand-blown glass parts in a vivid play of colours in green tonalities and very detailed and ornate castings. This lamp is also illustrated in Bernard Mahot's book ("Les lampes à pétrole", page 176), then from Ara's collection, but with a Vesta shade.

The lamp is unique in every respect with its baroque exuberant yet slender shape. The green, light and dark banded glass parts most likely come from the Cristallerie de Clichy near Paris.

The crystal font has sliced cuts in the upper part. The entire wall is uniformly cut with diamond cuts and polished. Ara had to replace the metal undermount as it was probably defective. The brass parts were already darkened; I cleaned and polished them thoroughly.

About 3 years later, I replaced the tulip shade of recent manufacture that came with the lamp with a colourless, older tulip from the Art Nouveau period, which I think is more in keeping with the age of the lamp.

This lamp is a showpiece in my collection. It must have belonged to a very distinguished household. It is probably a rarity of its kind, as it is the only lamp of its kind that I have ever seen. I am proud to have it in my collection.

Lamp Data

Added by me:
Glass chimney and tulip shade.

Cleaning and repairs:
All metal parts cleaned and polished.

Lamp body:
Base and column as an elaborate combination of cast brass parts and green glass (13 parts in total!). The hand-blown glasses are probably from Cristallerie de Clichy. Base on 4 screwed feet, 20 x 20 cm, Ø 197 mm.
Column of green, black-veined, hand-blown glass. Baroque design. Capital in Corinthian form. Cast iron weight in the foot.
Font of colourless, diamond-cut crystal glass, Ø 157 mm. Secondary brass undermount.

Burner:
20’’’ Matador burner of Ehrich & Graetz, Berlin, for the French market.
Wick knob marked: Logo von Ehrich & Graetz for export.
Wick knob ring marked: 20''' Bec Matador.
Original flame disc of Ehrich & Graetz, marked: 20''' Matador Importé d'Allemagne.
Flat wick 90 mm.

Glass chimney:
20’’’ Matador chimney. Height 275 mm, Ø fitter 65 mm.
Marked: Prima Cristal 20''' Matador + crown.

Shade and shade holder:
French tulip shade, colourless glass, frosted, cameo-etched flowers in Art Nouveau style, fluted top rim.
Height 173 mm, Ø fitter 101 and top rim 225 mm.
100 mm globe holder for 20’’’ burners.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 58.5 cm, total height with chimney 90.0 cm.
Total weight 3710 g.