French Ball-and-Socket Desk or Table Lamp - Brass, Bronze & Aluminium, c.1900

A finely engineered French adjustable desk lamp with ball-and-socket joints and rich aged patina, circa 1900 At a Glance - Appeal, Desirability & Collectibility • Origin: France • Date: circa 1900 • Material: Brass and bronze body with aluminium shade • Design: Adjustable table or desk lamp with ball-and-socket joints at both base and shade • Details: Curved arm, articulated joints, square weighted base, original aluminium shade • Condition: Worn surface consistent with age; fully working and functional • Dimensions: H: 45cm (17.7") | W: 65cm (25.6") | D: 13cm (5.1") • Delivery is not included - please use the Request Delivery Quote feature located beside the ‘Add to Basket’ tab before completing your order • Desirability: Equally suited to traditional interiors or contemporary spaces seeking character   • Industrial elegance: Combines the craftsmanship of the Belle Époque era with early industrial ingenuity   • Practical design: Fully adjustable design ideal for desks, worktables or reading areas   • Decorative character: The aged patina and mixed metals give it rich visual texture and authenticity   • Collector’s interest: Early adjustable lamps are increasingly sought after by collectors of antique lighting and industrial design Heritage, History & Craftsmanship This finely engineered French table or desk lamp dates to around 1900 and exemplifies the marriage of elegance and innovation that characterised lighting design at the turn of the 20th century. Constructed in brass and bronze with an aluminium shade, the lamp features an ingenious ball-and-socket mechanism both at the base and at the shade, allowing precise adjustment of angle and direction - a highly desirable feature in the early years of domestic and professional electric lighting. The lamp rises from a square, weighted base and extends gracefully through a curved arm, its proportions both purposeful and pleasing. The surface retains a gently worn patina, developed through decades of use, which enhances its authenticity and gives depth and character to the mixed metals. Fully operational and structurally sound, it remains as practical today as it was over a century ago. Around 1900, advances in electrical technology and metalworking prompted a wave of innovation in adjustable task lighting. French makers were at the forefront of this movement, producing lamps that combined mechanical precision with refined aesthetics. The ball-and-socket joint represented a significant development, offering stability alongside flexibility and allowing light to be directed exactly where needed - a feature valued by artists, engineers, writers and professionals alike. Lamps such as this stand as precursors to later industrial and modernist designs, capturing the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the early electrical age. Styling Suggestions • Use on a writing desk or worktable where its adjustability and focused light are both practical and decorative • Ideal for a study, library or artist’s space, paired with dark woods, leather and books • Place on a sideboard or console to introduce an industrial note within a period interior • Works beautifully against textured walls, stone surfaces or aged timber • Combine with modern interiors as a sculptural contrast piece with authentic historical character • Leave the patina untouched to preserve its honest, utilitarian charm Explore Every Facet Our high-resolution photographs let you examine this piece in detail, exactly as you would in the showroom. These images form an essential part of the condition report and are intended to provide complete transparency and confidence in your purchase. Study the ball-and-socket joints, curved arm, square base, aluminium shade and the richly aged surface - details that reveal the quality of its construction and the ingenuity of its design. Sustainable Style Thank you for considering this French ball-and-socket table lamp - a choice that is both culturally and environmentally responsible … in every sense, the most sustainable item is the one that endures. This lamp exemplifies the longevity and resourcefulness of early 20th-century craftsmanship. Its continued use honours traditional materials, preserves skilled metalworking techniques and celebrates functional design that has already served generations. Choosing antique lighting reduces waste, supports restoration skills and brings authenticity, individuality and continuity to modern interiors. Purchase with Confidence White’s Antiques carefully selects every item for authenticity, character, craftsmanship, and decorative presence - ensuring that each piece carries both aesthetic and historic value. Each item is described and photographed with care, ensuring complete transparency and confidence in your purchase. We are an established and successful business serving both trade and private collectors. You are warmly invited to visit our shop at 53 High Street, Arundel, and our Showroom at The Vinery, Poling, West Sussex, to experience our curated collections firsthand, explore the stories behind each antique, and appreciate these timeless treasures in person.