Featured Lamp shades made of vellum manuscript music.

As some maybe know I am a collector of early modern books. One of the areas where my interest lies are books with recycled (medieval) manuscripts. That looks like this:



The old vellum was also used in furniture, mostly in lamp shades. I have a few in my collection:

Number 1: A standing lamp with a wooden base



Example 2: Only a shade with a great capital C.




Example 3: A kind of steampunk wall lamp with metal




The manuscript fragments seem from the mass like a missal and not very old (18th century) for manuscript fragments. I have not really a clue about the objects as lamps. I guess they are early 20th century. Example 1 and 3 have lamp fittings, but those can be added later again.

Can anyone tell me about the age and origine of these lamps? Are they rare? Any input is welcome!

Don't hesitate to call them ugly, because they are hahahaha.

Thanks in advance.

 

Not ugly. Fascinating.

Debora

 

The incidental shots of your library are most intriguing...especially those behind the lamp base and the Steampunk shade...Thanks!

 

Thanks! I really like the old parchment folio’s.

 

Would/could you post a photograph of the "steampunk" wall lamp from the back?

Debora

 

Is that a chip on the side of the first lamp? Resin? If so, pretty new. Can't tell much about the second one. Iron? Can we get a pic of frame detail that is better lit and one inside? Third seems to be a modern interpretation of an arts and crafts piece. Nicely made. Looks to be copper with applied patina.

 

I think that is a chip in the finish of the wood, exposing the gesso underneath like old plaster picture frames do.

 

Now I inspect it the lamp closer, I can see it is no wood, but some kind of white plaster.

 

The fabric band on 2 and 3 seem to match, so I guess those were made together. Both of them were bought as one lot in the Netherlands, the other one was bought in France.

 

Those are fabulous! So interesting.