L.056

A typical French lamp to use in a French hanging lamp, with the spherical shape very common for this kind of lamps. Manufacture probably around 1890-1900.

These lamps are integral but interchangeable parts of hanging lamps, and can be used separately as table lamps if needed. Usually they did not have their own shades, as the large hanging lamp into which they were integrated had its own large shade. These lamps are often offered on eBay France. However, the large hanging lamps that originally belonged to them are quite rare to find.

The spherical vase of this lamp has a fine painting, excellent in every respect. I had surmised from the eBay photos that it was probably a printed decoration on porcelain. I was wrong. The material of the vase is very probably stoneware, as it lets no light through at all, but has a glaze entirely without glaze cracks as on porcelain. And the flowers are hand-painted! Every brushstroke under the magnifying glass can be seen as such. The vase is hand-signed "Bepargne" on the inside (probably the name of the porcelain painter).

The lemon yellow St. Louis tulip shade goes very well with this lamp. Not only is the size a good match, but to my surprise the colour also harmonises with the flower painting, presumably because there are also yellow tones in the flower painting. In order to be able to use this tulip shade, I had to replace the supplied burner (15''' flame disc burner) with a Kosmos burner.

The replacement burner is from SI Paris. This makes this lamp completely French.

Lamp Data

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

Cleaning and repairs:
Repairs were not necessary.

Lamp body:
Base and short column of brass sheet, simple form, stepped, round, Ø 117 mm.
Vase of white glazed ceramic in spherical form, with very fine floral painting, signed inside: Bepargne, Ø 163 mm.
Font of galvanised sheet iron, soldered to the lid of sheet brass, hidden in the vase. Lid Ø 108 mm.

Burner:
14’’’ Kosmos burner of S.I. (= Societé industrielle d’articles d‘éclairage), Paris.
Wick knob marked: Logo of S.I. Paris. Black resin inlay.
Flat wick 68 mm.

Glass chimney:
14’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 248 mm, Ø fitter 51 mm.
Marked: Cristal Supérieur - Made in France 14''' + crown and garland.

Shade and shade holder:
Tulip shade by St. Louis (signed), frosted, lemon yellow above, colourless below, cameo-etched flowers, fluted top rim.
Height 135 mm, Ø fitter 68 and top rim 183 mm.
70 mm shade globe holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 25.0 cm, total height with chimney 53.5 cm.
Total weight 1940 g.