The Piece

A beautifully sculpted Art Nouveau–inspired lily pad table lamp, dating conservatively to the 1930–1940 period, merging organic form with early 20th-century craftsmanship. The lamp rises from a cast metal lily-leaf base whose veins and pebbled texture create the impression of a water surface catching light. A slender, twisted brass arm arches upward like a plant stalk, ending in a frosted glass bloom.

The shade—pressed glass with raised berry-like nodes across the body and a deeply ruffled edge—glows with soft, diffused light. Its bell shape mimics an opening flower, a classic motif of the lingering Art Nouveau revival popular from the 1910s through the 1940s.

Inside the fitter, the lamp retains its original paper insulating sleeve with a stamped maker’s mark, a small but important detail that anchors its age firmly in the early–mid 20th century, before plastic and post-war standardized hardware replaced these components.

Lit or unlit, the lamp feels like a quiet moment beside a pond—a botanical sculpture rendered in metal and glass, carrying the unmistakable romance of pre-modern electric lighting.

Design & Construction

→ Form & Style

The design draws directly from late Art Nouveau’s love of natural forms:

• a lily pad base spreading outward as if floating on water

• a slender, curved stem resembling a plant reaching toward light

• a flower-form shade whose ruffled edges create an organic flare

This style persisted well into the 1930s, especially in European and American decorative lighting, where floral silhouettes remained deeply fashionable.

→ Materials

• Base: Cast spelter or bronze-washed pot metal

• Stem: Twisted brass or brass-plated armature

• Shade: Pressed and acid-frosted glass with raised texture and ruffled lip

• Socket: Early–mid 20th century metal socket with original paper insulating sleeve and stamped maker’s mark

• Finish: Warm antique bronze tones with gilt highlights along the pad’s edge

The combination of cast metal, brass, and pressed glass is consistent with 1930s–40s decorative lighting production.

→ Technique

The base shows crisp casting and intentional hand-finishing along the leaf veins. The stem’s twist pattern is machine-formed but period-accurate. The shade was made in a two-part press mold, then acid-etched to achieve its soft, velvety translucence.

The socket’s paper insulator—dry, darkened, and stamped—reflects authentic pre-1950s hardware, the clearest indicator of age.

History & Provenance

Beginning in the 1910s and extending through the 1940s, designers revived Art Nouveau’s botanical language—lilies, lotus flowers, vines, and flowing stems—for smaller electric table lamps intended for desks, vanities, and boudoirs.

These lamps often mimicked Tiffany’s famous lily lights but were produced more affordably, using cast metals and pressed glass rather than bronze and hand-blown shades.

The surviving vintage socket components in this lamp are a strong provenance marker. The paper insulating sleeve was phased out after WWII in favor of Bakelite and later plastic insulators. Its presence here, along with the overall construction, firmly situates this lamp in the interwar to early post-war period, likely between 1930 and 1940.

Condition

Beautifully preserved, with charming period wear:

• Frosted glass shade free of cracks or chips

• Light, even patina to brass and gilt areas

• Base retains its original finish, with natural darkening in recesses

• Original socket sleeve intact; minor edge fraying appropriate for age

• Wiring appears functional but should be tested or updated for safety

The overall patina enhances the piece’s romantic, botanical character—soft, warm, and entirely consistent with genuine early–mid 20th century usage.

Product Details

Why It Belongs in Your Home

This lamp is more than lighting—it’s atmosphere. The glow from its frosted flower shade is tender and quiet, reminiscent of twilight on water. Its botanical form adds sculptural interest to any room, while its genuine early–20th-century construction lends authenticity and soul.

Placed on a vanity, writing desk, or nightstand, it becomes a piece of living history—a soft, romantic accent that feels handcrafted, intimate, and beautifully timeless