Before electric light reached every room, a reading lamp or piano light had to bring its flame precisely where it was needed, and no further. This adjustable arm design solved that problem elegantly: a candle cup mounted on a swinging bronze arm, free to swivel and tilt so the light could be angled over sheet music, a book, or a writing desk, then folded back out of the way when the room was done for the evening.
This example, Continental, 1910s, is cast in gilt bronze, standing on a round base with a reeded, sunburst-style border. The adjustable arm pivots at two points, allowing the candle cup to be raised, lowered, and angled — note how the scrolled bronze bracket at the pivot is hand-finished rather than left plain, the detail that separates a considered decorative object from a purely functional fitting. The gilding has settled into a warm, even patina with genuine age throughout, most visible along the column and base where the piece has been handled over the years.
Whoever owned this lamp before you kept it well enough that the mechanism still moves freely and the candle cup remains intact. Wear is honest and consistent with age — soft patina and light surface marks, not damage. It is ready for its next desk or mantelpiece.
It arrives professionally packed and fully insured — we handle the paperwork and worldwide shipping. Returns are accepted within 30 days.
DETAILS:
Height: 23 cm (9.1 in) · Base diameter: 15 cm (5.9 in) — roughly the height of a wine bottle
Materials: gilt bronze
Mechanism: candle-operated, adjustable swivel arm
Condition: very good antique condition; genuine age patina, mechanism fully functional
Sold without a shade — leaving you free to choose one that suits your room.
