A Pair of Charles X Blued-Steel & Brass-mounted Table Lamps
Each lamp formed as a cluster of six 19th century socket bayonets; the tips scrolled at the tops. The sockets mounted with a steel musket ball and associated chased brass lions-paw feet. The bayonets stamped ‘G 1907’ and ‘G 10468’
Dimensions - 56cm high to bulb holder x 20cm diameter at feet
Each lamp formed as a cluster of six 19th century socket bayonets; the tips scrolled at the tops. The sockets mounted with a steel musket ball and associated chased brass lions-paw feet. The bayonets stamped ‘G 1907’ and ‘G 10468’
Dimensions - 56cm high to bulb holder x 20cm diameter at feet
Each lamp formed as a cluster of six 19th century socket bayonets; the tips scrolled at the tops. The sockets mounted with a steel musket ball and associated chased brass lions-paw feet. The bayonets stamped ‘G 1907’ and ‘G 10468’
Dimensions - 56cm high to bulb holder x 20cm diameter at feet
Isiah 2, verse 4 - “…..they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
The repurposing of weaponry has been seen throughout history, as much through religious instruction as human need and practicality. These lamps date to the period of the Franco-Prussian wars, when a confederation of German States united to quash France’s attempts to reinstate its power in Europe. I have a single chair made for cavalry swords and scabbards of the same period.
In 2003 Sotheby’s sold a set of chairs from the same period as these lamps; see attached image. Perhaps closest to the form of the lamps was a chandelier sold at Christies ‘Out of the Ordinary’ auction in 2014.
This extraordinary pair of table lamps were previously fitted as oil lamps with cut-glass reservoirs to the top section; these were sadly removed prior to my purchase.