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1950s Vallauris Seagull Table Lamp

Materials: Enamelled colourful ceramics. Several fish, starfish and other sea animals inside the grotto or rock lampshade with a white & grey seagull on top. Bakelite E14 socket.

Height: 19 cm / 7.48”

Width: 23 x 20 cm / 9.05 x 7.87”

Electricity: 1 bulb E14, 1 x 20 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of lamp can be used, but preferably the smallest you can get. 

Period: 1950s – 1970s.

Designer: To be appraised.

Manufacturer: Made by many factories.

Other versions: This 1950s Vallauris seagull table lamp exists in many varieties. Many lamps exists, all with fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Bright colours, typical for the 1950s and 1960s.

Ceramic art of the Côte d’Azur: The various centres of production are located in two departments of the Côte d’Azur: the Alpes-Maritimes, including the Principality of Monaco and the Var.

Vallauris

Vallauris, in the Alpes Maritimes, has been and remains the most important production centre of this region. They make ceramics for more than 2000 years. In Monaco only since 1874. After the second world war the ceramics became famous worldwide.

In 1946 Pablo Picasso visited the city and became a potter. From that moment on, Vallauris will be the meeting place of the artistic aristocracy. Joan Miró, Henri Matisse, Raoul Dufy, Marc Chagall. Fernand Léger, Georges Braque, Jean Lurçat. Édouard Pignon, Tsuguharu Foujita. Jean Cocteau, Jean Marais, André Masson. Victor Brauner, all of whom, like the Master, will try their hand at ceramics.

This intellectual abundance attracts young people eager for adventure. They were named: Michel Anasse, Dominique Baudart, Marius Bessone. Frederique Bourguet, Roger Collet, Francine Delpierre. Jean Derval, Albert Diatto, Isabelle Ferlay. Marcel Giraud, Odette Gourju, Jacques Innocenti, Irène Kostanda. Alexandre Kostanda (her son), Jean-Claude Malarmey, Marius Musarra, Lubina Naumowitch. Robert Pérot, Gilbert Portanier, Placide Saltalamacchia “AEgitna”. Max Siffredi (known as Mabyjo’s), Piot Thiry, Albert Thiry. Gilbert Valentin, Lilette, Valdemar Volkoff and many others.

In 1960, there were about 150 workshops or factories in Vallauris. Three times more than in 1920. In 1970, there were more than 200.

These lamps became very popular in the 1950s and 1960s, but you could find them until the late 1970s in souvenir shops along the coast throughout Europe. Some lamps and pots have labels on it with the name of the city where they were sold, as you can see on the pictures below.
One lamp has a label with “Ostende“, written in French. Ostend is a coastal city in Belgium. Another one has “Le Lavandou” glued on it. Le Lavandou is some 150 km for Vallauris. 

1950s Vallauris seagull table lamp - Vallauris Table Lamp - Ostende

1950s Vallauris seagull table lamp - Vallauris Table Lamp - Le Lavandou

1950s Vallauris seagull table lamp - Vallauris Table Lamp

1950s Vallauris seagull table lamp - Véritable Céramique de Vallauris

1950s Vallauris seagull table lamp - Vallauris Fish Table Lamp

1950s Vallauris seagull table lamp - Vallauris Starfish Table Lamp

1950s Vallauris seagull table lamp - Vallauris or Monaco Clam Table Lamp?

1950s Vallauris seagull table lamp - Vallauris or Monaco Clam Table Lamp?

1950s Vallauris seagull table lamp - Vallauris Table Lamps Collection

1950s Vallauris seagull table lamp - Vallauris Table Lamps Collection