Pair of Industrial Foundry-Mold Table Lamps

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A pair of “steampunk” table lamps fashioned from antique wooden foundry molds. Both molds date to the early 20th century … Read more A pair of “steampunk” table lamps fashioned from antique wooden foundry molds. Both molds date to the early 20th century and bear hand-carved numerical designations—91N and 92N, resp.—betokening their common origin. The painted wood remains in “as-found” condition and has aged naturally; nothing was done to alter its appearance or texture. For this reason, we ask that you inspect the photos closely to ensure that you find nothing objectionable. Our advice would be to leave them in their present condition!

Foundry molds of this sort were pressed into large containers filled with a plastic medium, typically sand. Liquid metal was then poured into the resulting imprint to produce a cast.

Antique molds are increasingly hard to find. They are scooped up either for their sculptural value as “found” art—or, as here, to be repurposed as lamp bases, table legs, or in other furnishings as mementos of America’s Machine Age and a witness to its impact on the culture of the Modern era. Note: the height of the socket is adjustable up and down via a set screw on the brass tube. See less