A striking pair of French table lamps from around 1980, each carved from a single block of white alabaster in a tapered conical form. The body rises from a smooth, rounded circular foot and widens toward an open rim. Deep horizontal ribs encircle each lamp from base to top. This stepped, streamlined geometry draws directly on French Art Deco lighting of the 1930s, which designers of the period revisited with renewed interest. Each lamp hides a single bulb inside the body and casts its light upward through the open top as an uplighter. Lit, the translucent stone gives off a warm, even glow, and the natural veining and the rhythm of the ribs show through clearly. Unlit, the lamps work as sculptural objects. As a pair, they suit a console, sideboard, or flanking bedside tables.
Condition:
Very good vintage condition. There are minor surface nicks and small chips to the ribbing and the foot, consistent with age and with how soft alabaster is. The stone shows natural veining and variations in tone. The lamps are wired for European current and should be rewired or fitted with an adapter for use in the US.