A table lamp carved entirely from alabaster in the form of a classical urn, its pale stone body softly translucent and richly textured with the gentle clouding and veining that make alabaster such a beautiful material to live with. Even unlit it has a quiet sculptural presence — somewhere between a decorative object and a fragment of architecture.
The form borrows from the long tradition of classical urns: a broad fluted rim above a rounded body carved with stylised leaf motifs, all rising from a tapering pedestal and circular base. It’s a familiar vocabulary of shapes — the kind that has appeared in gardens, interiors and sculpture for centuries — but here translated into a piece that happens, conveniently, to give off light.
Alabaster is particularly rewarding in lamps because it transforms when illuminated. Once switched on, the stone begins to glow from within, revealing subtle variations in tone and faint natural veining that remain almost hidden in daylight. The result is a warm, gentle light that feels far softer than glass or ceramic.
This example has a satisfying sense of weight and substance — properly carved stone rather than a lightweight imitation — giving it the reassuring solidity of a small sculptural object.
Wired with white silk flex and a discreet inline toggle switch.
A quietly handsome lamp whose real charm lies in the way the stone itself comes to life once lit.
Details
• Carved alabaster table lamp
• Classical urn form with stylised leaf decoration
• Fluted rim and pedestal base
• Natural translucent stone with soft veining
• Wired with white silk flex
• Inline toggle switch
• Height: 41 cm
• Maximum width: 25 cm
• Substantial and heavy
• Likely mid–late 20th century
Delivery
Qualifies as a medium item. UK delivery via insured courier/FedEx at checkout; international shipping available—ask for a quote.
