Vintage Sculptured Italian Alabaster Table Lamp withBirds-Vertical Scalloped Shade

  

This exquisite vintage table lamp from Italy features a hand-carved alabaster base depicting two birds perched on a naturalistic rock form. Their red glass eyes add a striking accent to the creamy, translucent stone. The lamp's base has smooth contours, soft veining, with warm translucence.

The bird motif and naturalistic carving style were popular in mid-century imports and were often used in sculptural lamp bases due to their warm glow and ease of carving. One of the signature traits of authentic alabaster is that when you place a strong light under or behind it, it will glow, as demonstrated in the last photo.

I placed the lamp on a flat LED light. The lamp retains its original vintage plug, consistent with mid-century wiring, and is topped with a vintage, cream color, vertical, scalloped, handmade, parchment lampshade (12 scallops). Lighting: The light socket switch features a 3-way design, providing three levels of light.

A 3-way light bulb is required (not included). The sculptural detail and original wiring of the lamp, as well as the scalloped parchment shade, suggest a production period between the 1940s and early 1950s. Although the lamp was made in Italy, the shade was most likely made in the USA. Lamp Height: 23 Tall up to the top of the finial.

Lamp base: 7" long x 4.75" wide. Shade: Has a 16.5" bottom width and is 12" high. Weight of Alabaster Base: 6.5 lbs.

Lamp: In excellent condition, with only one tiny, barely noticeable chip on the top rim of the bowl. The next-to-last photo is a magnified image of the chip. Note about one of the birds : Although this is not damage, it is a maker's flaw. I did not notice this until I was taking close-up photos. If you look closely at the sculptured bird on the left, you will see a tiny hole next to its right eye. A bird's eye should be on the side of its face, and the maker placed the first hole in the wrong place.

I'm guessing that since this is stone, there wasn't a way for the maker to correct this and fill in the hole properly. There is only normal age-related patina/wear to the metal parts of the lamp. Shade: The shade is in like-new condition. In most vintage hardback parchment shades, there is always discoloration from the heat of the light bulb.

This shade shows no discoloration, as if either the lamp's light wasn't turned on or wasn't turned on much. Also, there are no cracks in the parchment.

Each of the 12 scallops is intact, clean, and without damage or stains. Please review all photos, as they are an integral part of the description. Thank you for taking the time to view this listing. Feel free to browse my small store; I hope you discover something you love!