1920s Muller Lighting Bowl With Deco Designs, Custom Nickel Mounting

Description

Muller Freres of Luneville occupies one of the very top positions in the history of French, and for that matter, … more Muller Freres of Luneville occupies one of the very top positions in the history of French, and for that matter, worldwide, lighting design and manufacture. The company began well before World War I (in fact, in the third quarter of the 19th Century), during the period of organic, Art Nouveau styling and design. After the war, as tastes and styling evolved into the Art Deco realm, featuring geometric motifs, Muller lept into the breach and the results were spectacular.

To my eye, Muller’s Art Deco designs – particularly on their lighting – occupy a top ranking in the world of Art Deco lighting. A close look at Muller shades, whether in the form of bowls or “tulipes” (as the French call the small outside shades) reveals an extraordinary world of intricate and compelling design. There are amazing pyramiding shapes, stars, circular and other motifs, and a depth in the levels of glass seldom found in the work of competitors of the time. But step back from all this design-noise, and the bowls, in particular, have an attractive simplicity and sparseness about them. There, we have it both ways!

This signed Muller glass bowl is made of clear, colorless glass, which was frosted when it was made and as a result (more or less) appears white. Those clever French, they often highlighted various design elements by leaving them clear (non-frosted), adding to the sensational visual impact of the bowl’s design. This particular bowl features lots of clear elements and hence the sparkle you see in the photos. As I’ve used an incandescent lamp in the photos, there is possibly a slight warmth to the bowl which, depending on what kind of bulb you use, won’t be there at all in your home. On the other hand, if you put this fixture on a dimmer (now presuming you’re using an incandescent bulb), and dim it way down at night, the bowl will be take on a very warm quality and appear like a distant planet hovering above your room or table.

The four-hole ceiling canopy I copied from the original one I purchased in France. I can’t emphasize enough how rare four-hole canopies are, and this one is a knockout, design-wise! I’ve recast it in solid bronze and had it plated in a subtle brushed nickel finish (“jewelry for the home”), and given it my special antique patina. There’s a standard-based American socket inside the bowl which can take any wattage you care to use – no limits!

There are a couple of bubbles in the glass (from the making), on the edge of the rim, which you can see in the main photo, right in front. As you have four ways to look at this light, you can position them, if it’s important to you, in the direction least likely to be noticed. Otherwise, no “condition issues!” less