A Decorative Champlevé Japanese Bronze Table Lamp. 1900 - 1920

Name: A Decorative Champlevé Japanese Bronze Table Lamp.
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1241888
Price: 575 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing

ObjectTable Lamps
Period1900 - 1920
StyleMeiji Period
MaterialBronze, Enamel, Fabric
ColourDark Bronze
MotifsDragon handles, Floral enamel inlay, Urn form, Pleated shade
SizeH 56 cm (22 in)

A decorative Japanese table lamp of the Meiji period, originating around 1910, consists of a dark bronze urn form mounted on a turned wooden base. The body displays intricate champlevé enamelling with colourful floral motifs and geometric bands, accented by cast stylized dragon handles and a rich original patination. A cream pleated fabric shade caps the upper fitting, diffusing light downward over the metalwork. The wiring uses an old-style fabric cable connected to the original antique base. Standing at 56 cm in total height, this piece suits placement on a sideboard top or a desk in a gentleman's library. Ideal for interior schemes requiring traditional Asian art objects, the lamp provides ambient illumination while displaying authentic vintage craftsmanship. The unrestored condition preserves the historical character of the bronze and enamel surfaces for contemporary home settings.

FAQs

Champleve is an enamelling technique where troughs or cells are carved, etched, or cast into the surface of a metal object, such as bronze, and filled with vitreous enamel paste before firing and polishing. Japanese metalworkers refined this technique during the Meiji period to create detailed decorative vessels for global markets.

These lamps are constructed from cast bronze bases inlaid with mineral-based vitreous enamel in various colours, such as cobalt blue, green, and red. They are often topped with fabric lampshades, such as silk or pleated cotton, and mounted on wooden or metal plinths.

Authentic pieces exhibit heavy cast bronze bases with precise hand-finished engraving around the enamel cells. Look for natural oxidation on exposed bronze sections, age-appropriate wear to the underside, and characteristic motifs such as dragons, lotus flowers, or geometric borders.

A champleve lamp serves as a textured focal point when placed on a dark wood sideboard, library desk, or marble-topped console table. Pairing the intricate polychrome base with neutral contemporary furnishings creates a balanced look across eclectic and traditional spaces.

Dust the bronze base regularly with a soft, dry microfibre cloth. Avoid using liquid chemical polishes or abrasive cleaners, as these can strip the original patina and damage the enamel surface.

Koos Limburg Jnr. Scotland

A Decorative Champlevé Japanese Bronze Table Lamp.

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