Napoleon III Porcelain Urn Table Lamp with Hand-Painted Floral Cartouche and Etched Glass Chimney

Design & Inspiration

Place this lamp on a console or beside a bergère and it changes the character of the room — not loudly, but with the composed authority of a piece that knows exactly what it is. The urn-shaped porcelain body, painted in the Sèvres tradition, rises from a scrolled gilt brass base to a fluted etched-glass chimney that recalls the parlour oil lamps of the Second Empire. This is a lamp conceived for rooms where light is as much atmosphere as illumination — a salon, a formal bedroom, a reception hall where first impressions matter.

Materials & Craftsmanship

The body is formed in ivory-ground porcelain, its surface animated by a central hand-painted medallion depicting a bouquet of roses and garden blooms framed in a cartouche of scrolled gold acanthus. The surrounding field carries dense gilt scrollwork — arabesques and foliate flourishes rendered with a fine brush, the kind of surface decoration that characterized the finest Parisian and Vienna porcelain of the 1850s–1870s. The gilt brass mounts — the stepped collar at the neck, the scrolled acanthus feet — are cast and finished by hand, their warmth contrasting precisely with the cool ivory of the ceramic. The etched-glass chimney, tulip-form with a scalloped rim, diffuses light in a soft, even wash rather than a harsh beam.

Dimensions & Details

Weight: 4 kg. Shade diameter: approximately 14 cm. Bulb: E14 candle base, max 40W. Voltage: 220V. The lamp arrives requiring only minimal assembly — chimney to mount. Handcrafted in Egypt by Brass & Wood artisans.

Handcrafted in Egypt

Every lamp in the Brass & Wood collection is made in Egypt, where a tradition of metalwork and decorative arts stretches back millennia. The gilt brass components are cast, chased, and polished by hand; the porcelain body is painted by artisans trained in classical European decorative techniques. This is not mass production — it is a craft practice that takes time, and the result is a lamp that carries the evidence of human hands in every detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials is this lamp made from?

The body is hand-painted porcelain with gilt brass mounts (base, collar, and fittings) and a fluted etched-glass chimney shade. The electrical components are standard 220V E14 candle-base fittings.

Is assembly required?

Minimal — the glass chimney shade sits over the bulb fitting and requires no tools. The lamp arrives largely pre-assembled.

Can this lamp be customized?

Yes. Brass & Wood offers customization in brass finish (Gold, Silver, Antique Gold) and can accommodate special requests on size or shade type. Contact us to discuss your requirements before ordering.