Pair of Elegant Late 19th Century Napoleon III Japonisme Oil Lamps Later Electrified - 22½"

A graceful matched pair of French oil lamps from the late 19th century, Napoleon III period. Each features a gourd-shaped ceramic body finished in a deep black glaze, richly hand-enamelled and gilded with trailing foliage and exotic birds, reflecting the era’s taste for Japonisme and Japanese-inspired décor. Stepped brass bases anchor the form, while the original brass burners, now converted to electricity with bulb sockets, retain their antique glass chimneys.

The glass tubes may be retained if the lamps are displayed as non-functional decorative objects, or removed to allow for bulbs and shades if practical use is preferred. The timeworn patina to the brass and gentle rubbing to the gilt decoration add to their authentic antique charm. As part of the electrical conversion, the undersides of the bases have been discreetly opened to accommodate wiring, a practical modification that does not affect their appearance when displayed.

These lamps lend sculptural presence to an entry console or library table, elegantly framing a mirror or painting. Their Japonisme décor introduces a sense of history and refinement, while the slender chimneys add height without visual weight. If used as functional lamps, they may be fitted with shades chosen to one’s taste, offering an opportunity for subtle customisation. Placed on nightstands on either side of a bed, they bring pleasing vertical balance, or similarly anchor the ends of a sofa when set upon side tables.