Mid-Century Brass Corn Table Lamp with Pleated Shade, 1970s

Casting everyday objects in brass and passing them off as sculpture was one of the running jokes of 1970s decorative lighting — vegetables, fruit, even bundles of reeds got the treatment, rendered in enough realistic texture to read as trompe l'oeil at a glance before the material gives it away. The corn cob was one of the most popular subjects in that genre, appearing across several French and Italian workshops of the era in brass, gilt bronze, and glazed porcelain.

This lamp commits fully to the joke: a single ear of corn, its kernels individually textured across the surface, rising from a pair of cast brass leaves at the base. Below that, the lamp shifts registers entirely — a plain, polished square pedestal with clean architectural edges, providing a deliberate contrast to the organic column above it. The pleated white shade completes the piece without competing with the sculptural base for attention.

The brass has kept an even, warm tone throughout, with the kernel texture on the corn column remaining crisp rather than worn smooth. At 55 cm tall with the shade (42 cm without), it holds enough presence for a console or desk without needing an oversized surface.

It arrives professionally packed and fully insured — we handle the paperwork and worldwide shipping, with your choice of plug fitted to your country at no extra charge. Returns are accepted within 30 days.

Details
Materials: solid brass, fabric shade
Dimensions: height with shade 55 cm (21.7 in), height without shade 42 cm (16.5 in), width 25 cm (9.8 in)
Style: 1970s novelty/trompe l'oeil decorative lighting
Electrical: fully functional, plug fitted to your country at no extra charge
Condition: very good vintage condition, light signs of age

Condition details available on request.

Electrical details available on request.

Shipping details available on request.

Please see our returns policy.

Provenance details available on request.