L.297

A stately, large, high quality pillar lamp with silver-plated cast brass parts and an intricately cut Baccarat font. Found at an antique dealer in southern Germany.

The base and the entire column are composed of 9 parts. I had thought at first that the metal parts were nickel-plated. The surfaces really had the appearance of a somewhat oxidised, dirty nickel coating. However, when cleaning with brass polishing cream, it became obvious that the surfaces were silver plated, as the abrasion instantly turned black. Nickel would at most have given off a light grey colour! Large parts had also been painted over on the inside with a brown colour so as not to silver there unnecessarily. Not only the elaborately produced and silver-plated metal parts, but also the large, extensively cut crystal font from Baccarat testify that the lamp was manufactured to a very high standard and was certainly intended for a wealthy household.

To match the silver-plated lamp, I used a nickel-plated 20’’’ Matador burner with lifter and extinguisher. Fortunately, I also got the burner with the matching 100 mm globe holder, which was also nickel-plated. However, I had to silver-plate the collar of the font itself, as the silver layer there was badly rubbed off.

The colourful highlight of the lamp is certainly the orange, large tulip shade from Great Britain. It is probably from the 1920-1930s. The large flowers on it were completely faded; only the outer edges were still visible. I had the faded flowers on the tulip shade repainted in red by a glass painter in Mannheim.

Lampendaten

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

Cleaning and repairs:
The flowers on the tulip shade repainted. Font collar silver plated.

Lamp body:
Base and column entirely of cast brass, silver-plated. Square base on 4 feet, 16 x 16 cm. Elaborate construction (9 parts in total). Silver layer well preserved. Marked inside the base: B.S 10. plus impressed 3-digit number (illegible).
Column of vertically ribbed brass, silver layer moderately preserved.
Crystal glass font by Baccarat, Ø 164 mm. The entire surface elaborately cut. Undermount silver plated. Removable (screwed to the threaded rod).

Burner:
20’’’ Matador burner of Ehrich & Graetz, Berlin, with gallery lifter and extinguisher, nickel-plated, for the French market.
Wick knob marked: 20''' Bec Matador S.R. & Co.
Wick knob ring marked: 20''' Bec Matador Importé.
Original flame disc E&G with special slot for the extinguisher, without mark.
Flat wick 90 mm.

Glass chimney:
20’’’ Matador chimney. Height 280 mm, Ø fitter 64 mm.
Marked: Cristal Recuit 20''' + crown in a circle.

Shade and shade holder:
British tulip shade, orange marbled glass, colourless overlay, painted flowers (partly completely faded; renewed with cold colours), wavy upper rim.
Height 177 mm, Ø fitter 101 and top rim 208 mm.
100 mm globe holder for 20’’’ burners, nickel-plated.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 53.7 cm, total height with chimney 85.6 cm.
Total weight 5460 g.