Lamp Base
Item
Title
Lamp Base
Creator
Georges de Feure
Date
1902 (ca.)
Dimensions
15 1/4 inches
Medium
Bronze
Credit line
Collection of Drs. Cynthia and Timothy McGinn
Description
Published in The Craftsman in May 1903, this lamp originally was electrified and had three glass shades. In spite of his professed allegiance to the Arts and Crafts movement, and the magazine’s early emphasis on William Morris, by June 1902 Irene Sargent was writing about the influence of Art Nouveau and even illustrated wares by George de Feure. While she recognized the rapid growth of the new movement, she was less enthusiastic about its aesthetic merits, telling readers that “the art movement of the present day is a most dangerous and threatening one.” Artists, she worried "attempt to subvert and destroy principles which are as permanent as the laws of mathematics. They would have chaos instead of order, and set up the personality, the individual fancy of the designer against the laws of the eternal republic of art. They are nihilists of aesthetics. They no longer observe Nature. They are blind to all save 'the wavy line.'"
In spite of Sargent’s criticism regarding the movement, Stickley was drawn to this aesthetic and purchased a number of objects at Bing’s shop in Paris. Significantly, his interest in Art Nouveau predates the hiring of Harvey Ellis who is often credited with this influence in Stickley’s work.
In spite of Sargent’s criticism regarding the movement, Stickley was drawn to this aesthetic and purchased a number of objects at Bing’s shop in Paris. Significantly, his interest in Art Nouveau predates the hiring of Harvey Ellis who is often credited with this influence in Stickley’s work.