Edgar Brandt and Daum Nancy

EDGAR BRANDT (Paris, 1880–1960) and DAUM NANCY.
Art Deco table lamp, ca. 1925.
Wrought iron with a patina, art glass shade.
Base stamped “E. BRANDT” in two places.
Original Daum Nancy shade, decorated with stylized floral motifs and spirals.
Retains its original patina, with slight signs of wear consistent with its age. Lampshade in very good overall condition.
Measurements: 45 cm high x 31 cm in diameter.

This lamp brings together two of the most influential names in French decorative arts from the Art Deco period. Edgar Brandt’s collaboration with Daum Nancy in the field of lighting is well documented around 1925, with numerous lamps in which Brandt’s iron structures are combined with lampshades made by the Nancy manufactory.

The structure itself is a remarkable piece of ironwork: rising from a hammered circular base is an openwork shaft composed of a dense succession of roses, stems, and leaves, crafted with a distinctly sculptural quality. The use of a botanical motif—still rooted in the naturalistic sensibility of Art Nouveau—is here organized in a more compact and stylized manner, fully in keeping with the Art Deco style. The conical shade extends this motif through large flowers and spirals, while the palette of pink, amber, orange, and white creates an iridescent surface that changes noticeably when illuminated. The contrast between the density of the patinated iron and the luminosity of the glass reinforces the continuity between the base and the shade, integrating structure, ornamentation, and function. This combination of artistic wrought iron and high-quality glass places the piece among the most representative examples of French luxury lighting from the 1920s.

Edgar Brandt was one of the great innovators of French ironwork in the first third of the 20th century. A member of the jury for the Salon d’Automne and the Société des Artistes Décorateurs, he achieved a central position in the French decorative arts and developed works ranging from furniture and lighting to major architectural projects in iron. His participation in the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris marked one of the high points of his career.

Daum, founded in Nancy in 1878, had been one of the leading Art Nouveau manufacturers and, under the leadership of Paul Daum, incorporated a new Art Deco aesthetic from the early 1920s onward, characterized by more stylized forms and a renewed experimentation with color. The Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nancy houses a premier collection of his work.