Ridiculously Odd

Antique Lamps in White Parian

Parian –  marble-like in appearance, with its ever fresh, white, rather sculptured style, takes it’s name from a resemblance to the fine, pure white marble of neoclassic sculpture and was first known as “statuary porcelain”.   

In the 18th century, the French were the first to produce stunning, pure white, unglazed porcelain figures at the famous Sevres factory not far from Paris.   Josiah Wedgwood with his long experimentation with jasper-ware, then named it “Carrara,” after the Italian quarry patronized by Michelangelo. 

Parian became popular and was soon produced by other English and American mid 19th century manufacturers.  The official catalogue of the Great Exhibition of 1851 gives Thomas Battam credit for inventing Parian, saying ”he succeeded in producing a very perfect imitation of marble, both in surface and in tint”.  While Battam may have invented it, several English factories claimed credit for its development. 

But the Staffordshire firm operated by William Taylor Copeland and Thomas Garrett was the first to produce and sell it in 1842, and went on to become one of its major productions.  However it was Minton, in the mid 19th century, who finally coined the word “Parian” after Paros, the Greek island that furnished much of the pure, white marble used in the classical period and so it quickly became the accepted name.  Parian figures were produced by being cast moulded, i.e., liquid porcelain, known as slip, was poured into a cast.  After drying, the model was removed from the cast and finished by hand, prior to the firing.  Technically speaking, Parian is an unglazed, or, biscuit porcelain.   

The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co, currently have listed, two antique parian figures as table lamps -

A very sweet, mid 19th century, English, Parian-ware figure, emblematic of summer, mounted as a table lamp.  A charming subject of a young girl caught in the action of skipping bare footed across a summer meadow, her long skirt billowing out behind her.  She holds the corner of her short jacket, filled with summer flowers, in one hand and in her upright hand, a small bunch of grapes.  This pretty figure on a turned, drum shaped stand inset with a circlet of flowers, the stand water gilded.

Circa 1860           Overall height (including shade) 24″/61cm

A charming, mid 19th century, English, Parian-ware figure, emblematic of summer, mounted as a table lamp. A lovely subject of a young boy reaper,a sheaf of wheat under his arm and holding a reaping hook. He rests gracefully on a tree stump,his jacket lying over a rush woven bee skeep. The model producing all the languid emotion of a hot summer’s day.
The figure standing on a turned, drum shaped,maple wood stand, Dutch gilded.

Circa 1860           Overall height (including shade) 24″/61cm

The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co specialise in antique table lamp lighting with an on-line range of over 100 unique, antique and Vintage Lamps on view.

Lamps are shipped ready wired for the U.S, the U.K and Australia.

You are invited to visit their web site at www.antiquelampshop.com

© The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co 2009

About the Author

Maurice Robertson, principal of The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co , has had a lifetime’s association with antique porcelain and pottery,with his commercial experience spaning a period of 40 years,including as a valuer to the Australian Government’s Incentive to the Arts Scheme. His long experience with antique ceramics and glass also includes dealing with leading museums and numerous international private collections. He has extended his ceramics expertise into the quality table lamps seen on the company’s site, he is well known to local and international interior designers who have included many of his table lamps in their projects and has also supplied items of national interest to the official Sydney residence of the Australian Prime Minister.

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