This is a fabulous old Art Deco table or desk lamp.
It dates to around the 1930s and it a top-quality lamp.
It is made of cast spelter but has a fine bronze finish - and indeed only close-up examination below reveals that it is not bronze but a bronze-finished spelter. It has a rich dark bronze tone - and displays well.
The theme of street urchins and peasant life was a universally popular one at the beginning of the 20th century. This lamp shows a young boy who is working as a street musician who makes his living by playing the mandolin. He examines this day's meager takings - a few coins held in the palm of his hand.
It stands on a metal integrated plinth that resembles a stone pavement. The light section is before him - and consists of a little bulb contained within a frosted glass globe. So this is really more of a gentle feature light or perhaps night light.
The base is marked with a French Foundry mark that reads: Fabrication francaise, Made in France.
This figure is more unusual in that he forms a fabulous working desk lamp, It was one of the models made by the French sculptor George Demange (1865 - 1945). Other Demange works are often just simple decorative sculptures with no lamp functions.
The rarity of these sculptural figures designed as lamps is reflected in my asking price.
The shade is original to the lamp and it is a rare survivor - it is very delicate and I can't believe that it has survived intact for over 90 years. Also, the bronze finish is without losses or rubbing.
A very fine example will look amazing in a period Art Deco or French-inspired interior.
The artist of the original bronze seems to have excelled at these type of subjects which feature peasant children, often at work, active sporting figures taking part in outdoor pursuits, and heroic and patriotic French figures, such as Joan of Arc. Much of Demange's work coming up for sale is made from bronzed spelter.
Dimensions: the overall height is 12 1/2 inches (32 cm); the diameter of the glass shade is 4 inches in diameter. The base is 6 1/2 inches x 4 1/4 inches. The height of the base is about 1 1/2 inches.
Weight unpacked is 1.8 kg
I have taken lots of images for your inspection - from these photos, you can see all the detailing in the fine casting of this model.
It is sold in working condition, re-wired and with an on / off finger switch on the cable.
POSTAGE WILL BE TO UK LOCATIONS ONLY. It will be sent with Parcelforce48 tracked and traced and fully insured in transit.