A terrific circa 1950s French roped wall sconce featuring a galalithe milk shade by Adrien Audoux and Frida Minet. This sconce is unique due to its larger-than-typical size for designs by Audoux and Minet. "Galalithe" comes from the ancient Greek word meaning milk stone. This technique was invented by a French scientist who found a way to use milk protein to create a type of material for paper lamp shades. The technique became popular as its color imitates ivory in its appearance. A special piece to illuminate an entry or add additional charm and light to a hallway.
More about the Designers:
Adrien Audoux and Frida Minet were a French Modernist designer-duo based in the French Riviera who were productive during the 1940s and 50s. Their striking sought-after pieces often use braided rush rope with a wooden structure made of oak or beech. Their design aesthetic was based upon new, accessible materials and technologies, representing the realities of modern life. They were members of the Union des Artistes Modernes (UAM), established in 1929 by a group of Modernist designers including, among others, Charlotte Perriand, Francis Jourdain, Louis Sognot and Pierre Chareau. This group was founded as a reaction to the design ethos of the Societé des Artistes Decorateurs of which many of the UAM designers were originally members, where there was a tendency to cater to the wealthy elite of Paris with homes on the French Riviera and members created expensive pieces to satisfy the lavish taste of their clientele. Excerpt from Rose Uniacke.
Condition and wear consistent with age and use.
Must be rewired and installed in accordance with local electrical requirements.
Approx. overall 42¼" high x 9" wide x 8" deep
Approx. overall 107cm high x 23cm wide x 20cm deep
