Michel Armand Morille Table Lamp
Materials: Nickel-plated flat round base, probably bronze. Bronze stem. Nickel-plated brass tubes mushroom lampshade, gilded inside. 4 brass E27 sockets with a porcelain ring.
Height: 78 cm / 30.70”
Width: 34 cm / 13.38”
Electricity: 4 bulbs E27, 4 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: Atelier Michel Armand Inc., Montreal, Canada.
Other versions: This Michel Armand Morille table lamp exists in a few variations. A complete gold plated versions exists and several other models were made. Made in slightly different sizes.
Often said that these lamps were made by the famous Maison Charles company from Paris, France, but those are false assumptions, as confirmed by the company. Maison Charles produces another lamp with ‘organ’ pipes, named Orgues and designed by Jacques Charles. Several other lamps in this style were and are still made, hence the confusion.
Atelier Michel Armand
The Atelier Michel Armand Incorporation is not a French but a Canadian company. It was founded in 1978 and ended business in 1986. The directors were Robert Martin and Michel Dumas. Probably one of these two persons is the designer, or both. It was a small company with no more than 7 employees.
The company produced lighting in in a limited edition. Not many models were made. All in a high quality and often made in bronze. Lamps were made in the form of a flower, artichoke, flame and so on.
This morille (french) or morchella/morel table lamp, named after the mushroom, exists also with a different base and made complete round instead of oval.
Several other firms produced lamps in this style, also in plastic/acrylic tubes such as the Rougier company. Lamps made by Atelier Michel Armand were made in plastic by this company around the same time. Also CSA Luminaires from Canada made similar lamps. Maybe they are related, but I could not find proof for it. Lamps from these companies are often confused with each other.
Well known tubular lamps are the Fuga wall lamps, produced by Raak, The Netherlands since the 50’s until the 80’s and designed by the Finnish architect and industrial designer Maija Liisa Komulainen. The Italian Harvey Guzzini company produced an acrylic version as a pendant lamp and wall lamp.
Many thanks to Michael from Maison Charles for his enlightening information and help and many thanks to Hans for the photos and help.