Pair of Mid-20th Century Dutch Delft Blue-and-White Ceramic & Giltwood Lamps

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Description

A commanding pair of large blue-and-white covered-jar table lamps, Continental and probably Dutch, dating to the mid-20th century. Their substantial … Read more A commanding pair of large blue-and-white covered-jar table lamps, Continental and probably Dutch, dating to the mid-20th century. Their substantial faceted bodies, architectural scale, and elaborate cobalt decoration draw directly upon the celebrated tradition of Dutch Delft garniture vases produced during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Adapted for use as lamps, the pair combines the decorative vocabulary of historic Delftware with the strong proportions and practical function favored in sophisticated twentieth-century interiors.

Each lamp is formed as a tall, hexagonally faceted baluster jar with rounded shoulders, a gently tapering lower body, and a closely fitted domed cover with a broad flared edge. The projecting covers create a distinctive pagoda-like profile while emphasizing the transition between the swelling bodies and the gilt-metal electrical fittings above. A narrow cobalt band encircles each neck, visually separating the cover from the principal body while reinforcing the geometry of the faceted construction.

The warm ivory-glazed ceramic surfaces are extensively decorated in cobalt blue and softer slate-blue tones. Large flowering bouquets occupy the principal facets, composed of full-blown roses or peonies, clustered buds, serrated leaves, and scrolling stems rising from stylized foliate bases. The shoulders are enriched with an uninterrupted sequence of larger blossoms, pendant leaves, C-scrolls, and palmette-like flourishes, creating a broad ornamental collar around each vessel. Smaller floral arrangements decorate the lower register, while the domed covers repeat the principal motifs in compressed form.

The decoration employs both saturated cobalt outlines and lighter blue washes, producing depth within the petals and foliage while preserving the clarity of the underlying brushwork. Subtle variations in tone and placement reflect the hand-painted character of the ornament rather than mechanical transfer decoration. The faceted bodies further animate the design, allowing the repeated floral sprays to appear and recede as the lamps are viewed from different angles.

Both the form and decorative program recall the covered octagonal and hexagonal vases made by Dutch Delft factories as components of elaborate mantel garnitures. Historic Delft potters developed their blue-and-white wares in response to imported Chinese porcelain, translating Asian vessel forms and cobalt ornament into a distinctly European visual language. These later lamps reinterpret that tradition: their floral compositions combine Chinese-derived blue-and-white decoration with the scrolling leaves, balanced symmetry, and generous bouquets associated with Dutch decorative arts.

Each ceramic body is supported on a custom hexagonal giltwood plinth conforming to the geometry of the vessel. The bases have canted sides, restrained molded edges, and a warmly aged gilded surface that complements the cobalt-and-ivory palette without competing with the painted decoration. Gilt-metal collars and baluster-form neck fittings rise to brass single-light sockets with harp saddles. Brown textile-covered electrical cords with inline switches complete the lamp fittings.

Measurements: 27" h x 11.5" w. See less