Design
circa 1904 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Electric lamps had no precedent styles to inform their look and so offered designers the opportunity to create an original form for this new source of light. Without the danger of a naked flame, electric lamps did not need the same type of shades as candles, oil lamps or gasoliers and so at first they appeared rather naked in contrast.
As can be seen here, the designer was attempting to accommodate the flex and fittings while keeping the whole effect elegant. With the flower-like exposed bulbs and tendril-shaped metal fittings, the designer is drawing on plant forms much in the style of Art Nouveau.
As can be seen here, the designer was attempting to accommodate the flex and fittings while keeping the whole effect elegant. With the flower-like exposed bulbs and tendril-shaped metal fittings, the designer is drawing on plant forms much in the style of Art Nouveau.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Pencil and watercolour |
Brief description | Designs for electric lamps for the Library, Butts Close, by Nelson Ethelred Dawson, c. 1904. |
Physical description | Design for a lamp |
Style | |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | Electric lamps had no precedent styles to inform their look and so offered designers the opportunity to create an original form for this new source of light. Without the danger of a naked flame, electric lamps did not need the same type of shades as candles, oil lamps or gasoliers and so at first they appeared rather naked in contrast. As can be seen here, the designer was attempting to accommodate the flex and fittings while keeping the whole effect elegant. With the flower-like exposed bulbs and tendril-shaped metal fittings, the designer is drawing on plant forms much in the style of Art Nouveau. |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.739-1976 |
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Record created | June 30, 2009 |
Record URL |
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