Cloisonné Lamp w/ Figural Handles

Just found this lamp that I like the look of. It’s cloisonné with figural handles. Can’t tell if they are monkeys or dogs in the poor photos. Monkeys I believe though. One of the main images appears to be a bird, bird of paradise maybe. Can’t tell what the others are. Doesn’t look overly old but I’m having a hard time telling with the photos. I’ve requested better ones. Its listed for $75 and I have a feeling I could cut it down some. Any thoughts on what era this may be from or the value? My guess based on little is that it’s maybe 40’s-60’s? Very hard to tell in photos. Hopefully older, photos of base and plug coming with any luck. Good price/bad price? Seems like a reasonable deal to me if it looks good in person. If it looks genuinely old then it should be a great deal, no? I love anything with figural animals.

 

I think a bit older. That double lighting cluster like that is typical of pre-WWII. Suppose it could be a little newer but certainly phased out in the 50s. Finial does not look original.

 

Not cloisonne - Japanese champleve enamel. Vessel is pre-WW1, fitting look like 1920's. A excellent buy at that price.

Do not polish the patina off.

 

Will be very attractive with the right shade and finial (which needs to be replaced.)

Debora

 

Very nice! Agree with everything stated above!

 

Awesome thanks! The other examples I found would fit in the era you mentioned. This one I wanted to remain skeptical of since the photos were too blurry for me to really tell. Good to have more experienced eyes on it! Finial definitely didn’t look to match.

 

Ah good to know! I should have mentioned it was listed as cloisonné but I didn’t know if it was. Thanks for confirming what it actually is. Another I saw said it was converted to the double bulb. What would it have been originally do you think? I don’t polish anything lol! Thanks

 

A vase

https://www.google.com/search?q=Jap...VGs54KHQ_yCKYQ_AUoAXoECAsQAw&biw=1304&bih=731

 

Ah cool I didn’t know that was early enough that it really would just be a vase.

Now that I have the proper search term I’m seeing on the bay that these aren’t as valuable as I hoped they may be. The only ones that seem to sell for anything worthwhile are special examples, floor lamps, and good pairs. The singles like this that actually sell seem to go for sometimes less than what “mine” is listed at or just a bit more. I do like it and would enjoy using it but I would probably want to enjoy it for a while and then make something on it. Not sure that would happen. My experience with single lamps is that they are pretty hard to move even at a good price unless they are really good. Maybe I’ll still buy this for me but was hoping it was a little more rare. Good to know going into it though. It’s really great looking either way. Someone actually has this exact design listed on the bay for $120 plus shipping I think it was.

Edit: “worthwhile” meaning flippable at the price range I would pay in for this one.

 

If they only sell very well as pairs, and you have the opportunity to make a pair for around $200 would that make it worth your while? Just asking to learn.

 

I know the pictures are out of focus but it still looks like cloisonne to me. Maybe both cloisonne and champleve.

 

Thats a great thought. I bet if I waited it out long enough there would be a profit there. Not sure if this the right place for that investment in time, space, and capital though. Even as pairs they don’t seem to fly off the shelf by any means. When I said “well” it was an infrequent good price if I recall correctly. They are very nice lamps and I like them but it looks like it could be a long wait based on the amount of these up for sale vs. how often they sell. If someone thinks differently I would love to know though. This is obviously my first encounter with champleve lamps and I’ve a lot to learn.

 

I was asking because I’m selling 6 oil lamps to a store and he may be offering a cobalt blue Aladdin Lincoln drape lamp
In trade. I already have a pair (sort of) clear glass Aladdin Lincoln drape and I don’t need more than one pair. The question for me is to take the trade and try to find a match and sell my clear glass pair to him in the future.

 

I’m not experienced in lighting by any means. I’ve sold a couple lamps and they didn’t bring what I hoped. I made a decent profit so still good but they were singles and took a long time to sell. I think finding the pair would probably work in the long run for you. If you have a ready buyer you’re in a good position. Conversely you could sink more resources into acquiring the second lamp and not sell them for a longggg time (or ever maybe) and have shot yourself in the foot. Doesn’t sounds like you would be stuck here with your buyer but could happen to me. I think a brick and mortar store or booth is a better place to sell lighting than like I do online. The packaging and shipping alone make it a smaller profit margin than most items. Lots of time and materials in packing them well and expensive shipping. I try hard for local sales on big delicate stuff. Luckily I found a local buyer on my last lamp but for like 50-75% less than I was hoping to get initially.
Edit: spelling

 

I generally don’t sell. I mostly donate, but in this case I was having a stained glass lamp pole repaired and happened upon this shop that had a lot of oil lamps. I had acquired 9 lamps over 20 years so I asked him if he was interested It’s hard in California to get lamp oil so I stopped using all but the Aladdin ones. I appreciate your advice. I am waiting to hear back.

 

I hope it works out in your favor! At least CA is amazing in almost every other way! So after all the consideration on this lamp the lady finally got back to me late this afternoon and told me it was pending pickup. I was going to take it and just enjoy it if it didn’t sell. Oh well!

 

That's a shame but you learned something new. This is always the good part.