A palm tree lamp is a table or floor lamp designed in the form of a palm tree, with a trunk modelled to imitate the ringed bark of a palm and spreading fronds forming a canopy around or above the light source. Examples are usually made in brass, gilt metal or painted tôle, and sometimes combined with stone, glass or lacquered bases.
The palm motif has a long decorative history, appearing in classical and Egyptian ornament, in the Regency period, notably in the cast-iron palm columns of the kitchen at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, and in the exotic taste of the nineteenth century. The palm tree lamp as it is known today is most associated with Parisian decorating houses of the mid to late twentieth century, particularly Maison Jansen, and with designers working in a glamorous style later described as Hollywood Regency. Italian makers also produced palm lamps, and the form has been widely copied. Collectors look for crisp detailing to the leaves, good-quality metal and patina, original wiring components, and documented attributions rather than casual associations with famous names. Palm tree lamps bring warmth and theatrical character to drawing rooms, conservatories and bedrooms.
