Brass lamps. Brass is a popular medium for lamps. Most lamps during the early 1900’s were oil fueled, however many of these have been electrified.
Below are some examples and price guides of Art Nouveau brass lamps including a French table lamp and an Art Nouveau ceiling lamp by Galle.
French Art Nouveau table lamp with German ‘Matador’ oil burner, c 1900
Among the vast range of oil lamp designs available in Europe at the turn of the 20th century, those made in France in the Art Nouveau style are the most attractive. Although glass shades enjoyed the greatest popularity, lamps with decorative metal shades in polished brass (sometimes combined with glass) were also in demand. Made from finely cast, hand-wrought and hand-decorated metal components, this table lamp is a wonderful example of French Art Nouveau style. The style is evident in its sinuous legs and arms, beautifully crafted shade with whiplash ribbon, and a striking burner container decorated with a continuing frieze of the whiplash motif. The ‘Matador’ burner by Ehrich & Graetz and the original ‘Veritas’ glass chimney complete the lamp.
Reference: Museum of Applied Art and Sciences
A Dutch Art Nouveau brass pedestal lamp, the design attributed to H. P. Berlage circa 1905 the hammered and openworked shade supported by a column base with pierced ornaments, on a square base with openworked ornaments, fitted for electricity apparently unmarked height 88 cm, base 44 x 44 cm
Sold for 3,600 EUR at Sotheby’s in 2007
BRITISH, CIRCA 1900, An Art Nouveau brass lamp base, the central column intersected by an Art Nouveau scroll, on a circular base with three pad feet, 40cm high
Sold for £ 129 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2004
AN ART NOUVEAU BRASS HANGING LANTERN EARLY 20TH CENTURY, IN THE MANNER OF W.A.S. BENSON Of cylindrical form with a glass body, with domed top 29 in. (74 cm.) high
Sold for GBP 625 at Christie’s in 2013
First-quarter 20th Century; Austria The brass table lamp with a shallow domed shade inset with four green jeweled cabochons angled atop a curving slender stem on a squared foot, electrified 17″ H x 9.5″ W x 11″ D
Sold for $550 at John Moran Auctioneers, Inc. in 2021
Art Nouveau ceiling lamp : Emile Galle, Nancy – beg. 20th c. Round, openwork ceiling crown with flowering branches, centrally suspended, drop-shaped glass shade with blackberry branches. Brass, gold lacquered, colourless glass with milk-white underlay, red-brown overlay and etched decoration. Shade signed ”Galle”.
Sold for €1,600 at Kunstauktionshaus Schlosser in 2021
