Cut Crystal Ormolu Swan Table Lamp

Materials: Square base made of pressed crystal glass representing cut crystal glass. Moulded brass lion feet. Brass parts and rod. Moulded brass swan decoration. Curved embossed glass tube. Oval fabric lampshade with two gold coloured ribbons. White painted Bakelite E27 socket.

Total Height: 81 cm / 31.88”

Height: 53 cm / 20.86”

Lampshade: 33,5 x 23,5 cm / 13.18 x 9.25”

Base: 11,5 x 11,5 cm / 4.52 x 4.52”

Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 75 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used. Not a specific one preferred.

Period: 1970s – Neoclassical – Hollywood Regency.

Designer: To be appraised.

Manufacturer: S.A. Boulanger, Liege, Belgium.

Other versions: This cut crystal ormolu swan table lamp exists in several variations.

This lamp has a square crystal glass base resting on 4 lion feet.

This lamp is not a real ormolu lamp. It is made of moulded and polished brass. The crystal glass is pressed, so the quality is mediocre. It is a table lamp made after the neoclassical French and English antique lamps. The “real” lamps are often presented as lamps made of Baccarat (France) glass or Waterford (UK) glass. Many of these neoclassical lamps were made during the interwar period (1920-1940). This lamp is from the 1970s, to see on the wiring by VLM Components.

Ormolu

Ormolu is a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding. A solution of mercuric nitrate is applied to a piece of brass, bronze or copper.

Boulanger

Unfortunately, not much is known about the company. S.A. Boulanger is famous for the large amount of lamps the company produced that are designed by Gaetano Sciolari. S.A. Boulanger ended business somewhere in the early 80s. There is nothing to be found in the Belgian Official Journal about the company/factory. The journal goes back to 1983. The company is not to be confused by the other Boulanger lighting company from Belgium: Les Ateliers Boulanger NV from Brussels.

S.A. = société anonyme. French for anonymous society. 

VLM Components

All the electric parts were made by VLM Components in the 1970s. The company was founded in 1945 in Buccinasco, a small village near Milan, Italy. The company became famous for the switches they produce since 1968, designed by Achille Castiglioni.
VLM is part of the Relco Group, founded in 1967. Today they are the owners of the brands Relco, Leuci, Relco Lighting, VLM and Segno.