| The importance of interior lighting is an undisputed | | | | XVI. He was 19. |
| fact with the table lamp making a major contribution. | | | | Marie Antoinette assumed the title of Queen of |
| | | | | France and Navarre. |
| The illumination of a room, hall or living space, is only | | | | Circa 1880 Overall height (including |
| half the story, for a lamp, when viewed as more | | | | shades) 30" / 76cm |
| than "just lighting" can serve, along with pictures and | | | | |
| antiques, not only as a work of art, but a functional | | | | |
| work of art, offering visual pleasure while fulfilling a | | | | |
| most practical role. | | | | Some antique lamps have a story to tell and the |
| We have before us today, a very wide range of | | | | couples portrayed here, of course, are the ill-fated |
| shapes and styles from which to choose, from the | | | | Louis XVI of France and his Queen, Marie |
| antique and traditional to space age minimalism. | | | | Antoinette. |
| When speaking specifically of antique lamps, | | | | Many and varied are the "causes" of the French |
| replacement value is an interesting point and | | | | revolution, but one thing is no longer in dispute and |
| one very often overlooked. The following pair of | | | | that is that the monarch was seen to stand for |
| lamps with their formal description is a fine example:- | | | | every thing that was wrong with France toward the |
| | | | | close of the 18th century. At the time, the Royal |
| A finely carved pair of French, 19th century,lime | | | | Family was seen as the great symbol for the |
| washed, portrait, fruit wood busts as lamps. | | | | problems facing French society. |
| The subjects are, Louis-Auguste Dauphin of France | | | | Today, modern French history has revaluated the |
| and | | | | role of the Bourbon monarchy and the attitude is |
| Marie Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria. | | | | one of recognizing that the monarch was the |
| Louis is shown as a handsome young man of 15. | | | | scapegoat for the pent up frustration and anger of |
| He wears a short, side curled, powdered wig,tied at | | | | France. |
| the back of the neck with a large silk bow. | | | | During the Reign of Terror, at the height of the |
| At his throat is a tied linen cravat, or, stock, a | | | | French Revolution, Louis XVI was deposed and the |
| stiffened linen neck cloth. | | | | royal family imprisoned. Marie Antoinette was tried, |
| Across his right shoulder he wears the Sash of the | | | | convicted of treason and executed by guillotine on |
| Order of the Holy Spirit. | | | | the 16th October, 1793, nine months after the King. |
| The Order was worn suspended from asky blue, silk | | | | Not only do we need to be aware of the story |
| moiré ribbon, Le Cordon Bleu. | | | | portrayed by these lamps, but we also need to |
| On his left breast he wears The Order,a gold Maltese | | | | consider the possibility of repeating this artistic |
| cross with white borders,each of the eight points | | | | achievement today. |
| ending in a gold ballwith a gold fleur-de-lys between | | | | These busts were carved over one hundred years |
| each of its arms. | | | | ago and would have cost what would now be seen |
| At the centre of the cross, is set a white dove | | | | as a trifling amount of money. If we were magically |
| descending. | | | | able to ask the artist to repeat this work, I believe |
| Marie Antoinette is shown as a pretty, young bride | | | | we would be quite shocked at the cost! This of |
| of 14,her hair dressed with roses. | | | | course, is assuming that a woodcarver with a level of |
| Marie Antoinette was an Austrian Hapsburg | | | | skill required could be found - another saga all of its |
| Archduchessand roses were the symbol of her | | | | own. This is usually when the "how could I replace |
| Austrian heritage. | | | | these?" penny drops! |
| Recall her famous 1783 portrait, Marie Antoinette | | | | In summary, quality antiques such as these will |
| with the Rose,painted by Vigee Lebrun who painted | | | | never be as reasonably priced as they are today! It |
| 30 portraits of the Queen,most including her signature | | | | has been said that when you consider purchasing a |
| flower, the rose. | | | | mass produced, newly made item, comparing its |
| These elegant busts on a short socle andstanding on | | | | quality, price & likely depreciation value, |
| custom made, faux marble, circular bases. | | | | “antiques are cheap”. |
| The busts depict the couple at the time of their | | | | |
| marriageon the 16th of May, 1770, | | | | The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co specialise |
| Louis aged 15 and Marie Antoinette 14. | | | | in antique lamps with an exclusive on-line range of |
| On the day of her marriage to Louis-Auguste, | | | | over 100 unique lamps. Lamps are shipped ready |
| Marie Antoinette became Dauphine de France. | | | | wired for the US, the UK and Australia. Ask to be |
| At the death of Louis XV, in May 1774, his son, | | | | included on their mailing list for updates. |
| Louis-Auguste,ascended the French throne as Louis | | | | |