Mid 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Tole Urn Table Lamp Hand Painted Original Parchment Shade

Details

Description

A magnificent and highly decorative vintage hand painted chinoiserie table lamp, rendered in the Neoclassical / Empire Grand Tour manner.

… Read more A magnificent and highly decorative vintage hand painted chinoiserie table lamp, rendered in the Neoclassical / Empire Grand Tour manner.

The lamp takes the form of a classical baluster urn, raised on a stepped circular foot with molded giltwood collars at the neck and base. The ground is a rich, deeply antiqued verdigris - a layered, mottled patina of deep teal, forest green, and umber, with subtle craquelure and age that mimics centuries-old painted furniture, as captured in your close-up details.

The decoration is masterfully hand-painted and gilt in reverse, in the manner of 18th-century Italian chinoiserie. The body is adorned with a continuous frieze of Neoclassical motifs: a helmeted winged warrior holding a spear - likely Athena / Minerva - rendered in burnished gold leaf with fine black etching for detail, as shown in your macro. This is flanked by exotic birds perched on scrolling acanthus vines and large rocaille acanthus foliage, all in heavily distressed gilt with engraved veining.

The upper and lower registers are bordered with a raised, gilt scrolling rinceau band, and the base and top are trimmed with bands of burnished gold. The overall effect is that of a museum-quality painted urn discovered in a Roman villa. See less