L.175

A small French lamp, completely painted with rococo motifs in Champlevé technique. Champlevé technique is a very elaborate painting technique with enamel paints on metal surfaces whose origins date back to the 10th century (see the subchapter Enamel, Cloisonné, Champlevé in Info Boxes). This exclusive handwork requires great skill and is correspondingly expensive. This also explains why these lamps are so small if they are to remain reasonably affordable.

The base of the lamp had a hole that was later closed. This hole is puzzling; if it had been made for a cable during an earlier electrification, one would also have to find another hole at the bottom of the vase for the electric cable to pass through, but this does not exist.

The small St. Louis ball shade is a congenial addition to the lamp, as the etched ornamentation has the same rococo style as the lamp.

The burner supplied is an 8’’’ Kosmos burner by Schwintzer & Gräff, made for SI Paris. The chimney supplied was a little too long for the rather delicate lamp, so I replaced it with a shorter version.

Lamp Data

Added by me:
Glass chimney, ball shade and globe holder.

Cleaning and repairs:
Not necessary.

Lamp body:
The whole lamp body is made of turned brass, polychrome painted with rococo ornamentation in fine Champlevé technique. Stepped base, round, Ø 75 mm (with one closed hole).
Vase in baroque shape, round, Ø 79 mm. Vase and base can be unscrewed from each other.
Vase is also a font.

Burner:
8’’’ Kosmos burner of Schwintzer & Gräff, Berlin, for S.I. Paris.
Wick knob marked: Kosmos (Logo of SI Paris).
Flat wick 41 mm.

Glass chimney:
8’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 173 mm, Ø fitter 37 mm.
Marked: 8''' Kristall + A&S in a circle.

Shade and shade holder:
Ball shade by St. Louis, colourless glass, frosted, deep-etched rococo ornamentation, two brass rings. Without slip fitter.
Height 98 mm, Ø bottom opening 45 and bulge 110 mm.
52 mm globe holder for 8’’’/10’’’ burners.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 15.8 cm, total height with chimney 36.5 cm.
Total weight 990 g.