Pair of French Gilt Bosierie Table Lamps W/ Square Shades Circa 1970s - 28¾"

This pair of sculptural table lamps, likely French and dating to the 1970s, was conceived in the spirit of salvaged architectural boiserie. Each base is carved in corbel form with bold volutes, acanthus leaves, and a cresting shell, finished in warm gilt laid over a reddish ground and set on contrasting ebonized plinths. Square ivory fabric shades provide a crisp counterpoint to the ornament. The gilded surfaces are deliberately timeworn in keeping with their vintage character, and the two chic square shades show some age-related damage and may benefit from refreshing.

These lamps reflect the 1970s fascination with classical revival filtered through decorator taste, allied to the vocabulary of Hollywood Regency and Maison Jansen. The carved motifs recall Baroque and Neoclassical ornament, echoing Corinthian acanthus and Ionic scrolls, while the squared shades speak to the period’s preference for strong geometry. 

Made to evoke reclaimed boiserie without being antique, they channel the craftsmanship of traditional carving and gesso gilding into lighting suited to modern interiors. The pair can flank a console in an entry, balance a mantel, or anchor nightstands, where their generous scale and warm gilt lend presence. They complement neoclassical and traditional rooms, add polish to a collected eclectic scheme, and bring texture and contrast to pared-back contemporary spaces.