A.B. Read Ivory Pair of Brass and Aluminium "Versalite" Wall Lights, 1948

View Similar Items

Pair of Sculptural Brushed Aluminium Wall Lights, Italian, 1970s

Pair of Murano Glass and Brass Wall Lights

Pair of Brass Wall Lights

Vintage Aluminium Brass Frosted Glass Sconces Wall lights

Pair of Ivory Painted and Brass Sconces or Wall Lights Carlo Scarpa Style, 1940

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Industrial Polished Aluminium Wall Lights - Italy

Pair of Chrome and Brass Wall Lights, French, 1965

Pair of Swedish Brass Wall Lights

Pair of brass wall lights, Italy, 70s

Pair of French Brass and Crystal Chandelier Wall Lights

Pair of Murano Brass and Glass Wall Lights, Hillebrand, 1975

Pair of European Wall Lights in Crystal Glass and Brass

About the Item

A rare pair of "Versalite" wall lights designed by A.B. Read, 1948, and made by Troughton and Young, England, circa 1950. Although Read spent the latter part of his career (from 1951) as Head of Design for Carter, Stabler & Adams (later renamed Poole Pottery) his formative training and expertise were in lighting. Following the study of metalwork at the RCA (1920-1923), interest in Walter Gropius led Read to visit the Bauhaus via Italy in 1923/4. At the Bauhaus Read observed experiments in the design of lighting which influenced his move Paris to work for the French lighting company Bagues. After a year in France, Read took up the directorship of Troughton & Young (Lighting) in London, 1925, where Ernest Race worked under him for a year. In 1935 and 1946 Read’s work was used at the British Art in Industry exhibition and Britain Can Make It exhibition, respectively. The first acclaimed use of the "Versalite" range was at the `Design at Work' exhibition in 1948 and then at the Festival of Britain exhibition, 1951. Specifically, photographs show "Versalite" wall lights in use in the Foyer of the Royal Festival Hall. Read designed the central chandelier and all other lighting for the Royal Festival Hall.1 From a 7cm polished brass back plate the lights extended on a pole, also of polished brass, to 58cm. Although the arms of the lamps are static, the head is fully articulated thanks to a ball and socket joint. The most illustrious part of the design is the biomorphically sculptured head of the lamps which are formed aluminium lacquered in an ivory colour. 1. The Royal Festival Hall was the first modern public building to be erected in Britain following WWII. Today, it is the only aspect of the Festival of Britain still in existence and has been made a Grade I listed building -the first post-war structure to become so protected. Specifications: Depth: 58cm Width: 21cm Length of shades: 34.5cm Height of shades: 16cm Materials: brass, aluminium Date of design: 1948 Date of manufacture: circa 1950 Place of origin: England Designer: Alfred Burgess Read Manufacturer: Troughton & Young.

Dimensions:
Height: 6.3 in (16 cm)Width: 8.27 in (21 cm)Depth: 22.84 in (58 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 2
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Aluminum,Brass
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1950
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU891020454762

More From This Seller

View All

Pair of Wall Sconces in Brass Designed and Made by Itsu Oy, Finland, circa 1950

Located in London, GB

A pair of wall sconces in brass designed and made by Itsu Oy, Finland, circa 1950. The form of the lights’ is entirely made up of geometric shapes; circles, cy...

Category

Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Pair of Wall Sconces in Brass Designed and Made by Itsu Oy, Finland, circa 1950

$2,774 / set

Wire and Bamboo Wall Light, 1950s

Located in London, GB

A slim, mid-century wall light with bamboo armature. This wall light dates to the 1950s, and would have been perfectly placed in a scheme of complementary rattan furniture, a popul...

Category

Vintage 1950s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Wire

Wire and Bamboo Wall Light, 1950s

$1,164

Pair of "Sonet" Wall Lamps by Hans Per Jeppesen, for Fog & Mørup, 1965

Located in London, GB

A pair of "Sonet" wall lamps designed by Hans Per Jeppesen and produced by Fog & Mørup, Denmark, circa 1965. The wall lights can be adjusted in a multitude of ways. They can be p...

Category

Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Pair of "Sonet" Wall Lamps by Hans Per Jeppesen, for Fog & Mørup, 1965

$2,260

Midcentury Bamboo Wall Light

Located in London, GB

A bamboo wall light made in Denmark during the 1950s. Projecting from the wall, as though it were a branch growing from it, this playful wall light is made from a single branch of ...

Category

Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bamboo

Midcentury Bamboo Wall Light

$1,506

Jan Bočan Pair of Bent Walnut and Wool Conference Hall Armchairs

By Jan Bočan

Located in London, GB

Price for pair. Specifications: Designer: Jan Bocan Maker: Ton Date of design: 1968-70 Date of manufacture: Before 1972 Materials: Bent laminated walnut wood and wool Wid...

Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

Materials

Wool, Walnut

Jan Bočan Pair of Bent Walnut and Wool Conference Hall Armchairs

$31,439 / set

Ole Wanscher Pair of Armchairs

By Ole Wanscher

Located in London, GB

Pair of top quality armchairs by Ole Wanscher and the master cabinetmaker A J Iversen.

Category

Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs

Materials

Mahogany

Ole Wanscher Pair of Armchairs

$14,794 / set

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Aluminum

Pair of Sculptural Brushed Aluminium Wall Lights, Italian, 1970s

$3,068

Pair of Murano Glass and Brass Wall Lights

Located in Piacenza, Italy

Pair of elegant wall lights in pulegoso Murano glass, supported by golden brass structure, elegantly finished. Tipical pulegoso glass details. Italy, 1970.

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Pair of Murano Glass and Brass Wall Lights

$5,549 / set

Pair of Brass Wall Lights

Located in London, England

Pair of 2 light French brass wall sconces. Circa 1900 H 25cm x W 28cm x D 22cm

Category

Antique Early 1900s French Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Pair of Brass Wall Lights

$589 / set

Vintage Aluminium Brass Frosted Glass Sconces Wall lights

Located in Amsterdam, NL

Vintage aluminium wall light Cast iron base, aluminium shade with brass top, frosted glass Diameter cast iron wall mount 10.5 cm / 4” Weight: 3.80 kg / 8.4 lb Priced per individua...

Category