There’s something particularly good about the simplicity of this one. A great, almost perfectly spherical piece of pale green glass, scattered with hand-cut dimples and topped with a rather beautiful old nickel-plated fitting.
The glass is thick and wonderfully watery, with the faint green tint and small irregularities that give older glass so much of its appeal. Those cut dimples are what really make it though. Polished into the surface like little lenses, they catch whatever happens to be around them — magnifying it, turning it upside down or breaking it into strange floating fragments within the glass.
The lamp holder is stamped Made in England and retains its original double bone switch. It's a particularly lovely bit of period detailing: beautifully tactile, completely functional and made with rather more ceremony than a light switch strictly requires. The nickel has dulled and mellowed with age and sits very nicely against the cool colour of the glass.
The flex exits directly from the side of the fitting and the lamp has been rewired in grey twisted fabric-covered cable. We've paired it with a simple white cotton shade, which keeps the whole thing suitably uncomplicated.
Lit, the shade gives a warm, soft light while the cut glass catches little flashes and distortions around the room. Unlit, that great lump of glass is quite capable of looking after itself.
A very good lamp, made from very little.
Details
Origin: England
Date: Circa early to mid-20th century
Material: Pale green cut glass, nickel-plated metal and bone
Design: Spherical glass body with individually cut and polished dimples
Lamp holder: Nickel-plated fitting stamped Made in England
Switch: Double bone switch
Shade: White cotton shade included
Wiring: Rewired with grey twisted fabric-covered flex
Dimensions:
Condition
Very good vintage condition. The glass has small bubbles, variations and irregularities associated with its manufacture and presents very well overall. The nickel-plated fitting has mellowed with age, with surface wear and patination, and the bone switch shows gentle signs of use. Newly rewired and in good working order. Please refer to the photographs for detail.
Delivery
Qualifies as a medium item. UK delivery via insured courier/FedEx at checkout; international shipping available — please get in touch for a quote.
