Are these lamps converted from old vases?

Many examples began as traditional vases, ginger jars, or oil lamps before being adapted for modern electrical use. This conversion process often involves adding drilled bases and metal mountings to secure the electrical components.

How do I identify French Sevres style lamps?

French Sevres style pieces typically feature rich painted decoration set against coloured grounds, complemented by gilt bronze or ormolu mounts. They reflect the nineteenth-century revival taste for eighteenth-century court aesthetics.

What periods do these lamp bases come from?

The ceramic bodies span from the seventeenth-century Japanese and eighteenth-century Delft and Chinese periods up to Victorian and Edwardian productions. Many incorporate earlier antique vessels adapted into lighting during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

How do I match shades to these lamps?

Selecting a shade depends on the proportions of the painted porcelain body and the metal mounts. Fabric and silk shades in neutral tones or colours drawn from the hand-painted palette help balance the visual weight of the base.