Arts & Crafts Pair Candlestick Table Lamps Brass & Porcelain, Liberty Lampshades

Arts & Crafts antique pair of candlestick table lamps, probably made by Townshend & Co, with Liberty fabric lampshades, in solid brass & porcelain, 1880`s ca, English.

This pair of antique lamps have been gently cleaned while respecting the aged patina. They are newly rewired, earthed, PAT tested by an electrician and ready to use. Each has the following new components: lamp holder with a cream card cover, gold silk cable, black cord switch, black plug (UK Plug up to 250V) & clip on Liberty fabric lampshade. Lightbulbs included. These lamps can be used with a dimmer. It is possible to use these lights in other countries with a light bulb suitable to local electricity.

Presented here is a very fine pair of antique 19th Century candlesticks made in the Arts & Crafts style which flourished in England between 1850-1912, converted into lamps. Although a manufacturer`s mark couldn`t be found, the design motif together with the combination of porcelain & brass suggests they were probably made by Townshend & Co, England.

The Arts & Crafts Movement represented a reaction against the perceived decline of quality in handmade goods due to industrialization. The sophisticated handmade designs were intended to bring beauty to everyday objects, escaping the ugliness & materialism of the Industrial Age, these lamps are a good example of the style.

The delicate size and decorative presence make these lamps well proportioned for a shelf, console, bedside, sideboard or mantelpiece. They would suit a range of interiors such as Antique, Art Deco, Traditional, Country, Hollywood Regency, or Contemporary.

The design of each candlestick is full of exquisite details, combining cast brass knops with a baluster-moulded porcelain stem in a mottled brown and ivory glaze. The natural mottled glaze of the porcelain gives a handcrafted feel, typical of late 19th Century studio work.

The domed bases are scallop-fluted in deep relief, enclosing a wrought iron weight for stability. The bottom of the bases have new black felt underneath to protect the furniture below.

The upper section features an applied sunflower petal-form drip pan and a stepped cylindrical nozzle with everted lip. The contrast between the lustrous brass and the organic glaze surface reflects the Arts & Crafts Movement’s pursuit of tactile honesty and hand-crafted visual balance. On top of the sconce sits a new lamp holder covered by a new cream card candle tube.

Both lamps are finished with new clip-on lampshades covered in genuine Liberty of London "Ianthe" fabric. This complements the style of the base. Considered to be Liberty’s most iconic Art Nouveau design, Ianthe was originally created as a wallpaper layout by French artist R. Beauclair in c.1902. It was reworked for Liberty by the Haward Studio in 1967, and has appeared in a multitude of different designs and styles ever since.

These lampshades are included in the price.

Each lamp carries 1 standard small screw light bulb (E14) up to 40 Watts. At present they are fitted & photographed with new LED dimmable Candle Clear shaped light bulbs of 4.5 Watts (40 Watts equivalent). These are included in the price.

These antique lamps are in good condition for their age. The antique patina has been preserved. The frames are sound with no missing or broken parts. The metal surfaces overall are in good condition. There are minor subtle superficial marks, tiny dents & rubbing, adding character & depth, in line with age & wear. The porcelain is in very good condition with no cracks or chips. The lampshades are new and in very good condition.

Additional dimensions:

The total Height with the shade on is: 32.5 cm.

The base alone (without the lampshade) is: Height: 24 cm, Width: 9 cm, Depth: 9 cm.

The lampshade alone is: Height: 12.5 cm, Diameter at the bottom: 10.5 cm, Diameter at the top: 8 cm.

Packing is offered free of charge. We take special professional care while packing. For safe transport the bases & lampshades would be wrapped separately in bubble wrap, foam and an outer layer of card. Together these parts would easily fit into a box with loose fill packing nuts, safe for posting with a courier. We ship with reliable couriers (signed for, tracked & insured).

MAIN DELIVERY CHARGES:

Within London UK: Free
UK Mainland: £ Free
European Union: £ 85
United States/Canada: £ 85
Japan: £ 65
Australia: £ 95
Rest of the World please enquire.

ARTS & CRAFTS MOVEMENT IN BRITAIN HISTORY

The Arts & Craft Movement took its name from the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, a group founded in London in 1887. Its roots can be traced to the 1850`s, with key figures like William Morris emerging in the 1880`s.

The late 19th Century marked the beginning of a change in the value society placed on how things were made. This was a reaction to not only the damaging effects of industrialization but also the relatively low status of the decorative arts. Arts and Crafts reformed the design and manufacture of everything from buildings to jewellery. The Arts and Crafts leaders wanted to develop products that not only had more integrity but which were also made in a less `dehumanising` way.

The movement was influenced by art critic John Ruskin (1819-1900), whose work had suggested a link between a nation`s social health and the way in which its goods were produced. Ruskin expressed: "Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together".

TOWNSHENDS LTD ART METAL Co. ENGLAND HISTORY

Townshend and Thompson of Birmingham were brass founders during the 1880`s and the forerunner of Townshend and Company. It was a quality foundry of copper, brass & bronze art metalware such as holloware and tableware for up-market retailers. After WWI the Company shift to the production of industrial heaters.