L.344
After finding some almost spectacular porcelain or ceramic lamps on eBay USA (e.g. L.252, L.277 or L.314), I have always been on the lookout for such unusual specimens, although lamps from the USA always tend to be particularly expensive thanks to the high shipping costs and customs fees.
This little lamp is one of those beautiful lamps, even without being spectacular and pompous. It is dainty, small, elegant, and yet solemn and sublime because of the fine, hand-painted flower garlands. The porcelain lamp was made by Carl Thieme, in Potschappel near Dresden; the bottom mark was used from 1888 to 1901. In addition to the bottom mark (underglaze), "Germany" was also handwritten overglaze. This probably meant that the lamp was subsequently intended for export to Great Britain or the USA.
The lamp came with an American #2 flat burner (Venus by E. Miller) and an oversized, huge 3 inch chimney. As I had decided to give the lamp an European look again, I removed the American font collar and cemented in an 8''' Kosmos collar instead. With a matching 8''' Kosmos burner and chimney, the lamp became "European" or "German" again.
The most important and also most expensive part of the lamp is undoubtedly the hand-coloured lithophane shade. I got this shade with an inconspicuous, small and defective lamp from France. It bears the mark "Lithophanie française P.R. Paris". However, this mark is a camouflage mark of the actual manufacturer Schierholz PPM (Plauer Porzellan-Manufaktur). After this porcelain manufacturer was ordered by court order to pay compensation to the actual artists of the images used in lithophanie shades, it was probably forced to produce its shades in Paris and thus avoid the due monetary payments, because the court ruling was only valid in the German Reich (Info from: KH. W. Steckelings: Leuchtender Stein (= Shining Stone). The history of lithophane from the 18th to the 20th century. Sandstein Verlag, 2013 Dresden. ISBN 978-3-95498-051-2).
The shade was probably made around 1875-1890. In contrast to the usual lithophane shades, it is hand-coloured and glazed on the outside. The four scenes depicted have nothing to do with each other in terms of content; they are pictures involving small children. The brass shade holder is an original part of the shade.
With this lithophane shade, a long-cherished wish has come true.
Lamp Data
Added by me:
Burner, glass chimney, lithophane shade and special shade holder.
Cleaning and repairs:
USA font collar removed, new collar cemented in place. The connecting of column to the base is centred and stabilised with an inserted metal tube.
Lamp body:
Base, column and font of hand-painted porcelain (mainly flowers and floral garlands) with bottom signature by Carl Thieme, Potschappel. Round base, on four feet, Ø 117 mm. Column and font firmly connected, base can be removed.
Porcelain font, hand-painted, Ø 105 mm.
Burner:
8’’’ Kosmos burner of Hugo Schneider, Leipzig.
Wick knob marked: Logo of Hugo Schneider.
Flat wick 42 mm.
Glass chimney:
8’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 235 mm, Ø fitter 37 mm.
Marked: Importé de Tchécoslovaquie - Cristal de Bohême 8''' + Radiant star in oval frame.
Shade and shade holder:
Lithophane shade, conical without fitter, lithophane with 4 scenes, coloured and glazed on the outside, marked: Lithophanie Française P.R. (camouflage mark of PPM = Schierholz Plaue).
Height 103 mm, Ø bottom rim 240 mm.
Special shade holder for lithophane shades, decorated version, without hoop, to be fixed under the burner.
Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 29.4 cm, total height with chimney 55.5 cm.
Total weight 1010 g.
