Brass Curlew or Ibis Table Lamp
Materials: Rectangular flat black lacquered wood base with cut corners. Moulded brass, bronze or some type of copper alloy for the ibis or curlew bird. Curved brass rod. Conical cardboard & fabric lampshade. Bakelite E27 socket.
Height: 53 cm / 20.86”
Base: 18 x 7 cm / 7.08 x 2.75”
Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 60 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.
Period: 1970s, 1980s – Hollywood Regency.
Designer: To be appraised.
Manufacturer: Massive, Mortsel, Kontich and Wommelgem, Belgium.
Other versions: This brass curlew table lamp exists in many varieties. Other animals or figurines, all on this typical black wooden base. The Massive company produced numerous lamps in this style.
Massive
Massive was in origin a bronze foundry and they produced mainly candlesticks, crucifixes and chandeliers in Wilrijk near Antwerp, Belgium. The company was founded in 1926 by Pieter-Jozef De Jaeck. His son Eddy De Jaeck was responsible for the huge expansion of the company in the 1970s. But it were his sons, Piet and Jan De Jaeck who made Massive a true multinational. Thus, they moved production to Eastern Europe and China.
In the 1980s Massive became the leading brand in Europe. In 2002, the brothers left the company to the investment fund CVC Capital Partners, for allegedly more than 250 million euros.
Since 2008 the company is owned by Philips and the name of the shops is changed into Light Gallery.
When the takeover by Philips was announced in November 2006 Massive commercialised more than 10.000 lighting products under brand names such as Massive, TRIO and Lirio. The group had about 5.000 employees worldwide and was active in 70 countries.
Lamps In The Movies
A brass swan table lamp, made the same way and also sold by Massive, was used as a prop in the 2021 Belgian comedy TV series Baraki. Here in episode 1, series 1. Starring Pierre Nisse, Julien Vargas and Sophie Breyer.
Links (external links open in a new window)
Massive – Wikipedia (in Dutch)
Many thanks to Frank from Flowermountain.be for the photos and the enthusiasm.