L.176

A large French figural lamp made of cast spelter with a signed female figure, probably produced around 1890. Typical structure with a sculpture on a wooden base. The figure carries the glass font in her right hand.

I bought this sculpture lamp from a Dutch dealer who had unsuccessfully offered it on eBay USA. A thin, round wooden plate was attached to the lamp as a base, and the figure was holding a very small glass font in its hand. Of course, both were replaced. The lamp owes its current appearance to me.

The figure of the young woman with her bold posture is a design by the French sculptor Eugène Capy (1829-1894), who also designed other figures in the second half of the 19th century. With a little imagination one can see the influence of the just beginning Art Nouveau in the figure. Nevertheless, it is more likely to be assigned to historicism. In contrast to the later figure lamps in pure Art Nouveau, this figure is patinated only monochrome with a dark brown colour, which is intended to imitate pure bronze.

I had the new wooden base turned by a professional according to my own design. I then stained it with a darker mahogany paint and varnished it twice. I had the brass plate on the base made by a key maker. I named the lamp "La Lumière" (= The Light) myself. The brass ring between the wooden base and the figure plinth is a lucky find at Jürgen Breidenstein, owner of hytta.de.

The unconventionally shaped British tulip shade, together with the 10-line burner and the relatively small glass font, complement the lamp without dominating it.

Lamp Data

Added by me:
All parts except the figure with its spelter plinth were added by me.

Cleaning and repairs:
There was nothing to fix on the figure. I had the wooden base turned. Font undermount made of cast metal and the corresponding drip catcher are taken from a candle holder.

Lamp body:
New base made of turned beech wood, stained dark mahogany and clear lacquered, Ø 194 mm. On it a new brass plate with the fantasy name "La Lumière" (= The Light). A matching brass ring between the wooden base and the figure was found at hytta.de.
Finely modelled and cast female figure made of zinc, patinated in dark brown, signed: Capy (= Eugène Capy, French sculptor, 1829-1894).
Font made of colourless, very slightly greenish glass, ribbed crosswise, Ø 124 mm.

Burner:
10’’’ Kosmos burner of Hugo Schneider, Leipzig. The gallery of the burner is designed for 12’’’ chimneys.
Wick knob marked: Kosmos Brenner (Logo of Hugo Schneider).
Flat wick 52 mm.

Glass chimney:
12’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 251 mm, Ø fitter 43 mm.
Marked: Cristal Recuit 12''' + windmill in a circle.

Shade and shade holder:
British tulip shade, frosted glass, dark yellow above, colourless below, glowing red under UV light, transparent motifs, optically ribbed, top rim fluted and ruffled.
Height 155 mm, Ø fitter 66 and top rim 113 mm.
70 mm globe holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 69.2 cm, total height with chimney 97.0 cm.
Total weight 4780 g.