£1,350.00
A beautifully matched pair of late 19th-century Japanese Imari porcelain table lamps, carefully selected for their elegant proportions and refined decorative quality. Their compact scale makes them ideal for bedside tables, console surfaces, shallow mantels or writing desks, where they provide atmospheric lighting without overwhelming the space.
Each lamp is formed from a globular Imari porcelain vase, mounted on substantial dark-patinated brass fittings. The bases feature decorative rococo-inspired openwork scroll detailing, adding height, balance and a refined architectural quality to the design.
The porcelain bodies display the classic Imari palette, highly prized in both Eastern and Western decorative arts. Hand-painted decoration features repeating fan and wave motifs, filled with stylised chrysanthemums and foliage. The designs are rendered in rich cobalt blue underglaze and vibrant iron-red overglaze, accented with subtle aged gilding that enhances the warmth and depth of the surface.
Their restrained scale and balanced silhouette make them particularly versatile, offering a refined decorative accent and soft ambient lighting for intimate interior settings.
Imari porcelain from Japan has been highly sought after in European interiors since the 17th century, valued for its bold colour palette and its ability to reflect candlelight in warm, decorative tones.
Produced in the Arita region and exported via the port of Imari, these ceramics became especially popular during the Victorian period, when Japanese decorative arts strongly influenced Western design under the movement known as Japonisme.
During the late 19th century, Imari vases were frequently mounted in brass or bronze and converted into table lamps for use in elegant drawing rooms, bedrooms and morning rooms of grand European homes. Today, original matched pairs of this smaller scale are increasingly desirable for their versatility, colour and historical character.
Japan (Arita / Imari export region)
Japanese Imari / Japonisme / Chinoiserie influence
Late 19th Century (Meiji Period, circa 1880–1900)
Very good antique condition throughout.
The porcelain bodies remain structurally sound, with no cracks or chips. The hand-painted decoration remains vivid and well-preserved, with strong colour saturation and attractive aged gilding consistent with genuine 19th-century production.
The gilt brass mounts display a rich, dark patina and are structurally secure.
The lamps have been fully professionally restored in our workshop. They have been completely rewired using high-quality braided silk flex, fitted with new solid brass bulb holders, and fully PAT tested to modern UK electrical safety standards. They are safe and ready for immediate use when installed by a qualified electrician.
Height: 36 cm / 14.2 in
Width: 13 cm / 5.1 in
Weight: 1.5 kg / 3.3 lbs
All our collections have been through our workshop and where possible, we always try to maintain the original finish preserving the patina and colour, some items are sympathetically restored and this is done by our own skilled craftsmen using only traditional methods
