Art Nouveau Ceramic Table Lamp — Rörstrand, Sweden, circa 1910s/1920s

In the early 20th century Rörstrand excelled at exhibitions worldwide with its Art Nouveau style, hiring numerous artists to push for new technical and aesthetic heights. This petite table lamp is a beautiful expression of that period — a slender, elegantly tapered ceramic base in soft celadon green, decorated with a flowing Art Nouveau pattern of dark cobalt blue organic forms rising from a deep blue base, evoking reeds, leaves and stylised floral motifs that curl and drip downward with characteristic Art Nouveau fluidity.Whether this base began life as a Rörstrand vase that was subsequently converted into a lamp, or was produced directly as a lamp base, is difficult to say with certainty — both were common practice at the time. What is clear is that the ceramic body is a fine example of the decorative language that brought Rörstrand to international markets when it presented its Art Nouveau pieces at the 1900 World Exposition in Paris.The lamp is presented with a period-appropriate shade — a tall conical white fabric shade with pleated detailing and a gold trim border at both top and bottom. While this is not the lamp’s original shade, it dates from the same era and suits the base beautifully, completing the period feel of the piece in a way that feels entirely natural and sympathetic.Rörstrand is the second oldest ceramics brand in Europe, founded in 1726 and pieces from its Art Nouveau period are among the most sought after by collectors of Swedish decorative arts. The base has two small hairline cracks at the top, beneath the bulb holder, which are not structural and are barely visible with the shade in place. The lamp is fully functional. Category Lighting / Table Height With shade 36 cm — Without shade 22 cm Diameter Shade 10 cm — Base 7 cm Production year 1910s/1920s Designer Unknown Manufacturer Rörstrand Country Sweden Reference number 260123 150, - Us.