Mod Sanctuary Antiques and Fine Art Gallery

ARS ARTIGIANA DERUTA / ITALY TEXTURED GLAZED CERAMIC TABLE LAMP With SCRAFFITO ANIMAL FIGURES;GIRAFFE, ROOSTER, DONKEY,RAM, FISH, SNAIL, FLOWERS and FOLIAGE

Mid-20th century Italian Modernist lighting

(Circa 1965 - 75)

DESCRIPTION:

This magnificent and simply gorgeous, vintage monumental Italian 'ARS Artigiana Deruta' hand decorated, tubular electrified ceramic and walnut table lamp has a fluted upper shaped form, brass top cap (with original brass patina) and bottom cap (with original brass patina) stained walnut, central ascending shaft and a wheel-turned, stained walnut wooden base. Only the walnut base shows any evidence of damage, with episodes of some satin varnish loss on its sidewalls. No attempt has been made to correct or otherwise alter its 'as-found,' original vintage condition. The enormous, period brass harp and beautiful tall brass finial are both original to the table lamp. The lamp is in working condition and comes with its original electrical cord, plug and electrical assembly. At 43" in total height, it's not only big, it's monumental and would be a terrific, large lighting fixture for a large open space, such as a loft or modern home's great room, where smaller objects seem to get lost in the large open architecturally created interior spaces. The ceramic body is undamaged, with nary a scratch, scuff or mark on it. There are no hairline cracks, flea-bites or stains on its beautiful surface. The lamp did not come with a characteristic period 'barrel' shade. The ceramic body features rejectionist white base glaze, where the glaze has puddled away from the surface of the most likely kiln-fired terracotta clay surface and veined and puddled together, forming a sort of artistically intentional grid or lattice work. On top of this glaze treatment are the lovely sgraffito drawn depictions of various fauna, such as horses, rams, giraffes, roosters, goats, fish, snails and flowers. The animals are splendidly realized with a sense of light-heartedness and joie de vivre. The ceramic base is a veritable zoo of creatures made more exotic by their color. It's difficult to imagine how a period, vintage Modernist ceramic table lamp survived all these years without taking a tumble but it's true. This lamp clearly escaped the shenanigans of cats, dogs and especially the rough play of children. It escaped and is ready to take up sanctuary in your home or office. What are you lighting the interior of your home or office with? Superb.