Important Reconstituted Stone and Brass Adjustable Table Lamp

This commanding lamp brings together two of the most characteristic materials of 1970s French decorative arts — reconstituted stone and polished brass — in a form of considerable sculptural presence. The reconstituted stone base, with its dense, matte surface evoking the weight and permanence of natural stone, provides a monumental anchor for the composition, while the polished brass stem introduces warmth, reflective light and the practical advantage of adjustable height.

Reconstituted stone — a composite of crushed natural stone bound with resin — was widely embraced by French designers and decorators of the 1970s for its ability to achieve the look and tactile qualities of natural stone with greater consistency and at a scale that solid stone would render prohibitively heavy. At its finest, as here, it is handled with the same seriousness as the natural material, and its slightly worked surface takes on a quality that is entirely its own. The combination with brass was a natural one, the two materials sharing a gravity and material richness that was very much in keeping with the decade’s taste for luxurious sensuality.

The adjustable height mechanism is both practical and elegant, allowing the lamp to be set to the precise height required by its placement. At maximum extension the lamp reaches 87.5 centimetres, on a generous 50 × 28.5 centimetre base, giving it the presence and scale appropriate to a large console, side table or floor position beside seating.

A substantial and decoratively distinguished piece. In good vintage condition consistent with age. Dimensions: 50 × 28.5 × 87.5 cm.