L.264

A French pillar lamp typical of the period with a base/column combination of cast zinc and alabaster parts and a beautifully painted glass font. With this construction there are very many lamps that were produced in large quantities in France from 1900 to about 1920.

The lamp was not intended for me, but for a friend. However, it came with a broken font. So I kept it with me and got a suitable replacement font from France.

The two alabaster pieces on the column have a special feature: their original colour was dark green. However, this colour has really faded to a restrained pinkish-grey over the years in daylight, with the lower plate being quite a bit darker than the column. The areas covered by the zinc castings are still dark green! Was this actually the original colour of the alabaster, or were such stones artificially coloured even then? I tend to the second assumption, because original colours from embedded metal oxides would not fade under UV radiation.

The replacement font is beautifully painted with roses and red garlands. The zinc castings are nickel plated. The St. Louis tulip shade bought at auction on eBay UK also has a special feature: it has only an one-tier etching. Normally, these St. Louis tulip shades have a two-stage etching; the motifs are etched deeper than their surroundings. Here, the motifs are simply transparent in a frosted setting. It is quite possible that this tulip shade is a later and cheaper version. Nevertheless, it fits the lamp well.  

Lamp Data

Added by me:
Glass font, glass chimney, tulip shade and globe holder.

Cleaning and repairs:
Replacement font cleaned and cemented in place.

Lamp body:
Base of ornamental zinc casting, square on 4 feet, 15 x 15 cm. On top an alabaster plate. Marked under the foot: Deposé 1900.
Alabaster column with cast zinc base and capital. Originally green alabaster colour faded. All zinc castings neatly nickel plated. Stamped in the column parts: 1810 and 1820.
Replacement font of painted glass, floral motifs in enamel colours, Ø 152 mm.

Burner:
14’’’ Kosmos burner of Lempereur & Bernard, Liège.
Wick knob marked: Brevetes L&B.
Flat wick by Den Haan Rotterdam, 67 mm, marked: DHR Kat14.

Glass chimney:
14’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 269 mm, Ø fitter 52 mm.
Marked: Fabrication Française - Marque Déposée 14''' + VR in a star.

Shade and shade holder:
Tulip shade by St. Louis, colourless glass, frosted (single-stage etching), embossed, 6-fold bulbous and obliquely divided, flat transparent motifs, fluted top rim. Probably a later, cheaper production.
Height 223 mm, Ø fitter 66 and bulge 149 mm.
70 mm globe holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 36.2 cm, total height with chimney 66.5 cm.
Total weight 2810 g.