Pair Antique Sheffield Plate & Cobalt Glass Anthemion Motif Urns, Now as Lamps

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Pair of Antique Sheffield Plate & Cobalt Glass Urns as Lamps, in the Style of Matthew Boulton, with Anthemion Ornamentation

… Read more Pair of Antique Sheffield Plate & Cobalt Glass Urns as Lamps, in the Style of Matthew Boulton, with Anthemion Ornamentation

A striking pair of antique urns now presented as table lamps, expertly adapted and rewired with double sockets and silver-plated ball finials. The urns date to the 19th century and are exemplary of the neoclassical taste popularized by Matthew Boulton, with later 20th-century lamp fittings and square ebonized wood bases. Each urn features deep cobalt glass liners encased in elegant silver-plated cages with applied anthemion and palmette decoration—motifs derived from ancient Greek architecture and used extensively in neoclassical ornament to symbolize eternal life and classical virtue.

The metalwork is executed using the traditional Sheffield plating technique, in which silver is fused over copper and worked by hand—a hallmark of 19th-century English craftsmanship. The acanthus and anthemion band is finely chased and engraved, while the pierced vertical cagework recalls Boulton’s iconic vase and epergne designs. The cobalt glass inserts, blown to fit within the framework, glow richly under light and create a dramatic contrast against the silver.

Each urn measures 12 inches high to the neck and 5 inches in diameter, raised on a 4.5-inch square ebonized base. The total height to the top of the urn and base is 14 inches. With hardware and finial, the total height is 27.5 inches. The custom shade shown is for display only and not included; shade size is 14.5 inches high by 11.5 inches square.

A refined and architecturally inspired pair for any classical interior, library, or study. Professional wiring with pull chains. These are both decorative and historically resonant lighting pieces, marrying 19th-century neoclassical design with functional 20th-century adaptation. See less