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Early 20th Century Carved Alabster Bowl Plafonnier Light

£2,950.00

A beautifully carved alabaster plafonnier pendant light. c.1910

A finely carved early 20th‑century alabaster plafonnier of generous proportions, formed from warm, translucent stone with attractive natural veining throughout. The bowl is richly detailed, with a deep fluted body beneath a broad moulded rim, showcasing the quality of the carving and the material. Suspended from three decorative chains composed of individually cast leaf links, the metalwork has developed a pleasing aged patina that complements the warmth of the alabaster. When illuminated, the stone takes on a soft, ambient glow, highlighting the natural variation within the alabaster and lending the piece a wonderfully atmospheric presence. The bowl shows a small chip and an old historic repair to a crack, both consistent with age and use.

A highly decorative pendant light of excellent scale, combining refined craftsmanship with timeless early 20th‑century design.

Rewired with black twisted flex.

Worldwide shipping available, get in touch for a quote.

A beautifully carved alabaster plafonnier pendant light. c.1910

A finely carved early 20th‑century alabaster plafonnier of generous proportions, formed from warm, translucent stone with attractive natural veining throughout. The bowl is richly detailed, with a deep fluted body beneath a broad moulded rim, showcasing the quality of the carving and the material. Suspended from three decorative chains composed of individually cast leaf links, the metalwork has developed a pleasing aged patina that complements the warmth of the alabaster. When illuminated, the stone takes on a soft, ambient glow, highlighting the natural variation within the alabaster and lending the piece a wonderfully atmospheric presence. The bowl shows a small chip and an old historic repair to a crack, both consistent with age and use.

A highly decorative pendant light of excellent scale, combining refined craftsmanship with timeless early 20th‑century design.

Rewired with black twisted flex.

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: 360mm
Height: 880mm
Weight: 5kg