Late 19th Century French Cast-Iron Orientalist Figural Floor Lamp - 78¾" x 13¾"

A grand French cast-iron garden torchère in the form of a female figure in Orientalist costume, late 19th century, mounted on its original turned wooden pedestal painted in faux marble. The dark-patinated figure stands in contrapposto, draped in finely modeled garments with a scalloped girdle and beaded ornament. Her head is adorned in an Oriental-style headdress, while her arms are raised to support a torch, originally conceived to hold gas light. The work is of excellent quality, though unsigned.

This figure reflects the 19th-century French fascination with Orientalism, a taste fueled by Salon painting, archaeological discoveries, and the Expositions Universelles. Foundries of the period produced durable cast-iron figures for parks, promenades, and winter gardens, often conceived as torchères (sculptural lights designed to merge functional illumination with decorative presence). The classical stance combined with exotic costume motifs exemplifies the eclectic vocabulary of the time, while the crisp casting demonstrates the industrial savoir-faire that brought sculptural art into the public and private landscape.

Commanding in scale, the piece would suit an entry hall, stair landing, or conservatory, where its tall vertical silhouette naturally draws the eye. It reads beautifully as a sculptural focal point on its pedestal, flanked by verdigris urns or a marble console, and pairs equally well with neoclassical or Belle Époque interiors. In a garden room or library, it serves as a dramatic architectural accent, and it could be electrified to function once again as a light source.