Are these lamps originally wired for electricity?

These vessels started life as decorative vases, urns, or cassolettes during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. They were converted into lamps at later dates to suit modern interiors. The conversion process typically involved running a cord through a drilled base or securing a brass pipe through the centre of the vessel without damaging the antique body.

How do I identify French versus Chinese porcelain?

Chinese export wares often feature traditional motifs like blue and white patterns, Rose Medallion scenes, or famille verte glazes. French factories like Sevres produced soft-paste or hard-paste porcelain with uniform bleu celeste grounds and gilded neoclassical details. Many nineteenth-century French pieces also incorporated imported Asian ceramics into domestic mounts, blending eastern bodies with western bronze work.

What is the difference between ormolu and gilt bronze?

Ormolu is simply the historical term for gilt bronze, derived from the French ou moulu, meaning ground gold. Both terms describe a bronze substrate treated with a gold finish. In marketplace descriptions, the words are often used interchangeably to denote the golden metallic mounts framing the porcelain and stone bodies.

How should I choose a lampshade for these?

Selecting a shade depends on the scale and visual weight of the gilt bronze mounts and the ceramic body below. Fabric shades in neutral silks allow the intricate patterns of the vase and the chased details of the ormolu to remain the primary focus. The proportions should balance the height of the base and the width of the mounts to maintain visual stability.