Ormolu Table Lamps
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Ormolu, Bronze
Early 1900s French Empire Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Ormolu, Bronze
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Marble, Ormolu
Early 1900s French Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Onyx, Ormolu
Early 1900s French Louis XV Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Rock Crystal, Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Marble, Ormolu
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Siena Marble, Bronze
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
1920s French Belle Époque Vintage Ormolu Table Lamps
Marble, Bronze
1960s French Empire Vintage Ormolu Table Lamps
Brass, Bronze
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Ormolu Table Lamps
Glass, Murano Glass, Cut Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
Late 19th Century Italian Grand Tour Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Bronze
20th Century French Empire Ormolu Table Lamps
Bronze
20th Century French Louis XV Ormolu Table Lamps
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Marble, Bronze
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Marble, Bronze
Early 1900s English Rococo Revival Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Ormolu
Early 1900s Chinese Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Ormolu
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Ormolu
Early 1900s French Antique Ormolu Table Lamps
Ormolu
Antique Ormolu Table Lamps and Other Ormolu Lighting for Sale on 1stDibs
Able to double as task lighting, table lamps can illuminate darker corners of a room, and antique ormolu table lamps and other ormolu lighting can be incorporated into a variety of spaces.
Your style of decorating doesn't have to necessarily have to be rooted in neoclassical design in order to tastefully introduce ormolu — while demand for the material and/or technique was at its peak in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries, ormolu table lamps, desk lamps and other ormolu furniture and decor are still widely loved by contemporary designers and collectors.
What is ormolu?
Ormolu is a brilliant form of decorative trickery. To the untrained eye, ormolu table lamps, clocks, jewelry boxes and other ormolu furniture and decor look like they're made of solid gold. But those in the know recognize ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — as having been essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
“Most commonly, ormolu refers to a bronze object that has been covered with gold, typically 18 karat or 24 karat,” explains Jamie Sinai, director of the antiques specialist Mayfair Gallery, in London. “For that reason, ormolu is sometimes called gilt bronze or, in French, bronze doré. Strictly speaking, however, the term ormolu also denotes the technique of applying gold to a metal.”
“The word comes from the French or moulu, which translates as ‘ground or powdered gold’ — the form the gold takes before it is applied to a metal surface.”
From the court of King Louis XVI to that of Napoleon I, the French elite snapped up furniture mounted with ormolu, as well as sconces, candelabra and table lamps made from the material.
If you're looking to bring a touch of this 19th-century pizzazz to your desk, an antique ormolu table lamp is a decorative touch that blends ornament and functionality. Perfect for lighting your nightstand or reading nook, table lamps play an integral role in styling an inviting room, and a well-crafted ormolu table lamp does more than provide light; the right fixture-and-table combination can add a focal point or creative element to any interior.
Today, antiques collectors and interior designers seek out the finest in ormolu clocks and continue to prize ormolu for its extraordinary craftsmanship and history-infused glamour.
“This wondrous material was highly sought after in France as the ultimate luxury. It magically resembled solid gold and sparkled under candlelight,” says Sinai.
Find antique ormolu table lamps, ormolu floor lamps and other ormolu lighting on 1stDibs.
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