1970s Agate Table Lamp

Materials: Gold painted rectangular wood base. Brass tube and parts. 2.2 cm (1.18”) thick brown-yellow agate geode slice. Bakelite E14 socket.

Height: 22 cm / 8.66”

Width: 20 cm / 7.87”

Base: 10 x 13 cm / 3.93 x 5.11”

Electricity: 1 bulb E14, 1 x 60 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of lamp can be used, but preferably a long clear light bulb.

Period: 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: To be appraised.

Manufacturer: To be appraised.

Other versions: This 1970s agate table lamp exists in several sizes and colours. Also made with a lampshade. Probably other minerals, corals and shells were used.

In all probability it is a lamp made by Massive, Belgium.

Willy Daro

These lamps are generally attributed to the famous Belgium artist Willy Daro (Les Nouveaux Ateliers Willy Daro SPRL, Brussels, Belgium), but in the beginning of the 1970s several light companies produced these lamps. Often made in Italy, France and Belgium.

Most likely this lamp is not from his factory, though it was bought in Belgium and probably produced in this country. The lamps made by Wily Daro are made in a much higher quality.

Below are 100% genuine Willy Daro lamps, the photos were taken from his sons website a couple of years ago. The website no longer exists. The company itself ended business in 1987. 

In Willy Daro’s factory worked several people, many lamps are not by is hand, but they are all handmade, of course.

These lamps became popular because the collecting of minerals, gems, fossils, shells and corals boomed in the seventies. In almost each city appeared a store that sold minerals and fossils. 
Also due to Willy Daro who made these lamps famous.

Designers that worked with corals, fossils and minerals: Willy Daro, Jacques Duval Brasseur, Henri Fernandez, Maison Honoré (Richard Faure & Isabelle Faure), Lova Creation, Paul Moerenhout, Pierre Faveere, Mário J. Pires, Violette, Romeo Paris, Stan Usel, Isabelle Masson, Georges Mathias, and many others.

Lamps like this are still made by several artists. Stan Usel, Patrick Dragonette, Gianluca Fontana, Taher Chemirik are a few of them.

Agate is named after the Achates river in Sicily, Italy today named Dirillo, or Acate, is a 54-kilometre long (34 mi) river were these stones were found in ancient times.

Table Lamps made by Willy Daro