I thought these lamps were ceramic, but...

After seeing them on preview day I, got up early the next morning in Asheville, NC to snap up these stunning butterscotch lamps at a large estate sale. I thought the bodies were ceramic until I looked inside. They appear to be enamel on brass and I never heard of anything like this on lamps. Anyway, I am wondering what their general history might be. When were they made, by whom. What their value might be. I'm not interested in selling them, but I like to know the stories of the incredible artifacts in my life. They are 14 inches high to where the electrical stuff begins.

 

Nice to have a pair. First thought is that they are 1970s or later. Wondering if the finials are original or not. If the lamps feel like very good quality in the hand, they could be one of the better makers like Stiffel or Frederick Cooper.

 

How do you "see inside?" Can we see too?

 

Round about 1980s I'd think.

Debora

 

Can you see inside from the base upside down?????

 

I took off the bottom felt, the round circle. Unfortunately I glued it back on and I'd rather not do that again. The inside was very rough brass. Like bumpy rough.

 

Yes. With the felt off. The inside surface is uniform brass throughout the body. It is extremely rough.

 

The quality of work is perfect. They are very heavy and tight. No defects or blemishes in the enamel. There was a hairline fracture part way on one foot. I reinforced it with a little line of clear Gorilla glue.

 

Agree 70's, 80's. Probably not Stiffel or Cooper since those were marked (sometimes labels are removed though). Kind of an Asian feel to the base and shape, but almost certainly made in US.

 

If there was a mark, where would it be? I could have missed it. I have six nice chairs and it took me a long time to find the mark and it was only on one in faint ink. I needed younger eyes to help me interpret.

 

Frederick Cooper uses a foil label on the socket. If you see remnants of a spot where a rectangular once stood on the socket, please take a photo. Stiffel also used labels that can go missing. Stiffel also sometimes stamped the top of their shades, but as you have no shades, not helpful.