Topic: French Art Nouveau Mushroom Lamp

[Pinkspoons]

Nouveau style two-part splodgy glass lamp with satinated surface, signed to the shade using acid resist. Approximately 320mm/12.5" tall.

Really no idea on the signature - have tried every combination I can construe from it, with no result.

And I've really no idea on the age. The fittings had really been mucked about with when I got it - 1970s-80s wiring, 1920s-40s brass/ceramic bulbholder on top, a bulb scarily soldered onto bare wires within the base, improvised bung made of window putty and newspaper, the mount for the shade had been badly painted black which was covering solid bronze fairy finials, solid copper arms, and traces of the original chemical patina (since restored with liver of sulphur and a kitchen blowtorch) - so they weren't much assistance.

The lack of real wear to the base would make me think that it's not greatly old, but the bronze and copper parts (newer pieces would, I assume, be cheaper brass) and the older bulbholder throw a bit of a spanner in.

Additionally, this company is selling jewellery featuring the same fairies, apparently made from pre-war dies: http://ffirstimpressions.com/EARRINGS-large/TINKERBELL-LARGE/flypage.tpl.html

Any help gratefully received.

[flying free]

the last four letters are I think haud.
I wonder if it is the name of a restaurant perhaps?  I know, it should be the name of the maker, but just wondering ...

m

[Anne]

It looks like the lettering reads Le Nouhaud, which is the name of at least one auberge / restaurant in France...   so perhaps they were made for such an establishment? 

The curious wiring arrangement is a puzzle, but I have seen putty used on lamp bases to affix to bases, newspaper would be a cheap and handy packing if it didn't quite fit. I don't suppose there was a date on the newspaper, Nic?

[flying free]

Adding to Anne's comments, perhaps it was made by ?? (one example might be Muller Freres although I don't know if they used these colours) for either a restaurant as I mentioned or a shop, either of which might have insisted their name was acid written on the lamp.  Were these made in Czechoslovakia at all?  Just wondering about the splotches and colours - it's a long time since I looked at these as I had a fairly unusual shade for a Robj Veilleuse.

m

[flying free]

There may have been a Verrerie Le Nouhaud actually although don't know if the period would be contemporary at all i.e. the Atelier may have come much later?
http://brocante-lestrouvaillesdecaroline.com/fr/1607-coupe-en-verre-de-l-atelier-du-nouhaud.html
m

[flying free]

and this one
Sold in Geneva in 2014 - signed Le Nouhaud - different colours on the shade and a wrought iron base rather than glass:
http://www.hoteldesventes.ch/fr/lots/364668

It's the only one I've been able to find though.
m

[Pinkspoons]

Ah, one thing I never saw was an N at the beginning, only R, K, even X!

But thanks for that, and the links, both.

I did wonder about Czech, originally, because of the colours but there seem to have been dozens of French companies making very similar lamps throughout the last century - and probably into this one.

The newspaper packing was blurry mush, nothing to yield from it.

The lamp came from a house clearance in Copenhagen last year, possibly even the year before. It's been sat in the attic in pieces for a while until I got around to bringing it back to life with fittings that fit and wiring less likely to kill you!

I'll see if Nouhaud can yield anything further. Thanks again.

[bat20]

I wonder if the fairy decoration could have anything to do with absinthe?.

[Pinkspoons]

There is/was a lamp maker/restorer in Le Nouhaud, Limousin, called Danielle Riviere, specialising in pate-de-verre and wrought iron art nouveau lighting. But I can only find one small mention online.

Also, there is/was a Patrick Crespin in the same area, est. 1981. This lamp from the same auction as the one signed Le Nouhaud is signed Crespin:

http://www.hoteldesventes.ch/fr/lots/364657

[flying free]

http://www.crespinpatrick.com/souffleur-de-verre.php

You could write and ask if they have any more knowledge perhaps?

m