Antique Early 20th Century Hand Carved Alabaster Plafonnier Light (1).jpg
Antique Early 20th Century Hand Carved Alabaster Plafonnier Light (1).jpg

Antique Ornate Hand-Carved Alabaster Plafonnier Light

£2,450.00

A large and ornate alabaster plafonnier light. c.1920

A decorative brass pendant with an alabaster bowl, suspended from a trio of chains. The metalwork carries beautiful classical detailing - masks, foliate borders and small applied motifs - all typical of early‑20th‑century French and Italian lighting. The hand-worked alabaster bowl has a good, even tone with the natural veining showing through when lit.

It’s a straightforward, characterful piece: solid brass throughout, well‑cast ornament, and the right proportions for a hallway, stairwell or smaller dining space. The alabaster has a slight burn mark to the centre, common on old alabaster fittings due to heat from traditional bulbs, as well as a historically repaired crack.

Rewired with black twisted flex. Chains can be shortened to suit ceiling height

Worldwide shipping available, get in touch for a quote.

A large and ornate alabaster plafonnier light. c.1920

A decorative brass pendant with an alabaster bowl, suspended from a trio of chains. The metalwork carries beautiful classical detailing - masks, foliate borders and small applied motifs - all typical of early‑20th‑century French and Italian lighting. The hand-worked alabaster bowl has a good, even tone with the natural veining showing through when lit.

It’s a straightforward, characterful piece: solid brass throughout, well‑cast ornament, and the right proportions for a hallway, stairwell or smaller dining space. The alabaster has a slight burn mark to the centre, common on old alabaster fittings due to heat from traditional bulbs, as well as a historically repaired crack.

Rewired with black twisted flex. Chains can be shortened to suit ceiling height

Worldwide shipping available, get in touch for a quote.

Alabaster found a quiet renaissance in the early 20th century, especially in plafonnier and pendant lighting, where its natural translucency became a defining aesthetic. Unlike glass, alabaster diffuses light through its mineral body, giving a soft, velvety glow with subtle clouding and veining that designers of the period prized for its atmosphere.

By the 1910s–1930s, workshops in France, Italy, and Austria were producing carved alabaster bowls for Art Deco and late‑Belle Époque interiors, often suspended on silk cords or fine chains. The material’s ability to be turned, lathe‑shaped, and hand‑carved made it ideal for shallow dishes and domed plafonniers, and its warm tone complemented bronze, gilt metal, and patinated iron mounts.

Though fragile and sensitive to heat, alabaster became a hallmark of refined decorative lighting, bridging traditional craftsmanship with the emerging modernist taste for quiet, sculptural forms.

Dimensions
Diameter: 400mm
Height: 1400mm (can be reduced)
Weight: 2kg