Vintage French Bouillotte LampThree Lights, Burgundy Tole Shade, Dolphin Arms and Ring Finial

In late eighteenth-century France, one of the most fashionable pastimes was bouillotte, a fast-moving card game played late into the night. Players needed steady light over the table, and a special lamp was invented for it. Candles stood around a central rod, with a painted metal shade above them. As the candles burned down, the shade could be slid lower to keep the glare out of the players’ eyes. The lamp took its name from the game, and the design has been a classic of French interiors ever since.

This lamp follows that classic bouillotte form. A round dish-shaped base, made to catch wax in the candle era, supports a slim turned stem. From it, three scrolled arms curve out, each ending in a candle cup with a double bobèche and a red candle sleeve. A tall rod rises through the centre, topped by a ring for lifting, and carries a wide, drum-shaped shade of painted tôle (thin sheet metal) in black. The shade slides up and down the rod and fixes at the height you choose. The metal of the base and arms is pewter, with a soft grey sheen.

The lamp is in good vintage condition. The painted shade shows scratches and small chips with some colour beneath showing through, as pictured. Like every lamp we sell, it is checked in our workshop before it is sent, so it arrives ready to use. It is at its best on a desk, a library table or a games table, just as it was designed to be.

In short, this is a vintage bouillotte style three-light pewter table lamp, with scrolled arms and an adjustable black tôle shade. It is 57 cm tall and exactly as pictured.

DETAILS

Size: Height 57 cm (22.4 in); width 43 cm (16.9 in). About the width of a large serving platter.
Material: Pewter base and arms; painted tôle shade
Style-Period: Bouillotte style; vintage
Shipping: Professionally packed, fully insured, worldwide. We handle the paperwork, with all import duties paid by us; nothing to settle on delivery.
Electrical: Fully rewired or checked through our workshop before dispatch, with a plug or adapter fitted for your country; delivered working and ready to use. Three lights.
Condition: Good vintage condition; scratches and small chips to the painted shade.
Lampshade: Fitted with its adjustable black painted tôle shade.
Returns: Accepted within 30 days.

Read our condition standard. Please ask if you need additional photographs or measurements.

A decorative style is not a guarantee of a particular maker or date. See the individual listing for the stated attribution and period.

Worldwide delivery is included in the price. Every piece is individually packed, tracked and fully insured. No shipping charge is added at checkout. If your destination is not listed, please contact us before ordering.

Maison Jaspers pays US tariffs and import duties. For other destinations, local import taxes and duties may apply and are payable by the recipient. Contact us before ordering if you need destination-specific guidance.

Dispatch timing is shown above. Transit time depends on your destination.

Delivery information

Notify us within 30 days of delivery if you wish to return a piece. No reason is required. You pay return shipping for a change-of-mind return.

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