Early 20th Century Italian Teal Painted Tole and Wrought Iron Hanging Lantern

Elegant and sculptural, this early 20th-century hanging lantern is fashioned in painted wrought iron and fine tole, finished in a rich teal enamel softened by age. The hexagonal body encloses clear glass panes framed by scalloped borders, while hand-cut tole leaves and flowers wind gracefully around the crown and culminate in a foliate finial. The tole is delicately worked and thin, giving the ornamentation a refined lightness but also a certain fragility and flexibility typical of hand-formed metalwork of this kind. It houses a single light.  The surface shows a richly timeworn patina with extensive paint losses, flaking enamel, oxidation, and bends to the leaf tips, giving the piece a distinctly rustic and romantic character.

Perfect for an entryway, covered porch, or garden room, its ornate foliate frame casts gentle, decorative shadows. It pairs beautifully with limestone, marble, and weathered woods, and it can soften an industrial setting or complement a country kitchen when suspended above a small table or work surface. Fit with a warm, low-watt bulb to emphasize the layered paint and leafwork, and let the authentic patina add depth to both traditional and collected contemporary interiors.