Antique French Alabaster Lighting Bowl, Ca. 1920, With Nickel Mountings

Details

Description

This extraordinary alabaster bowl and its lovely fittings are from France, of course, where lighting production was in its artistic … Read more This extraordinary alabaster bowl and its lovely fittings are from France, of course, where lighting production was in its artistic heyday, particularly in the 1920s and 30s – never to be equaled or repeated!

This bowl, formed of natural stone, has extremely unusual, beautiful color and markings. Alabaster bowls are generally either white, white and black, or this caramel color, the caramel color being far rarer and the markings more complex.

This bowl eclipses most others! It's been lightly sanded (ending with a 2000-grit finish, for that super-smooth look and feel) to disappear any scratches/imperfections and then waxed to bring out its full beauty.

The metal apparatus is made of solid brass and has its original nickel plating fully intact. Over the 100 or so years of its existence, the nickel plating has dulled to the point that it looks like a more subtle brushed nickel finish. The incandescent bulb inside the bowl, combined with the various aspects of the photography, make the metal look far “warmer” than it is in “real life.”

The original French bayonet socket has been utilized. It’s far more sturdy and better designed than any American socket that might replace it. There’s a step-down device installed that allows the use of a candelabra-based American bulb, and one such 40-watt bulb will be included with your purchase. If you prefer to use bayonet mounting bulbs, the are easily obtained on the Internet, in all sorts of wattages and sizes.

The diminutive size of this fixture suggests it will be best suited to a small room, entryway, or hallway. It hangs down about 15 inches and is 9 ¾ inches across.

In the evening or night, this bowl takes on the look of a distant planet! You’ll love it! See less