Posted 8 years ago
Rogueroman
(96 items)
I was on a daily walk this week and picked up this pair of stunning metal Lotus Flower bases at a yard sale. They stand 24" tall and the base is 7" in diameter and weigh almost 6 pounds each. The top flower on each had remnants of melted candle was so at first I assumed they were candle holders. But once the wax was removed I realized that the center piece is hollow all the way through and with female thread at the top. Which leads me to assume that perhaps these were instead lamp bases. The lotus pad base is slightly crimped all the way around allowing room for a cord to emerge from the bottom. I have looked everywhere and have been unable to find a mark of any kind. I don't know if they are Asian made for an American market or if they are American made lamp bases. Any information would be extremely helpful. I am considering having them restored to lamps but would like to find info on how they may have looked as lighting (shades etc.,) and when they were made. I found something slightly similar on line, but nothing helpful. Thank you in advance.
Think they may be Italian...found these, hope it leads you somewhere...I would have snapped them up, they are wonderful....:-)
https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/lighting/table-lamps/pair-of-italian-gilt-lotus-candelabra-lamp-bases/id-f_6617663/
Thank you so much. I never would have thought Italian. The look is very similar tho and it inspires me to continue researching these pieces.
They might be artificial flowers which decorate a Buddha statue in temple alters. I am asking my Japanese friends, but I have seen them in Japanese temples. https://www.google.com/search?q=??+??&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjbyOSmjtHYAhVI0GMKHelqA
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25E5%25B8%25B8%25E8%258A%25B1&prev=search
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-15-Buddhist-altar-fittings-Gloden-artificial-lotus-flower-2-pieces-set/182448201616?hash=item2a7ac29f90:g:LpkAAOSw4DJYmqjA
They are called "JYOKA" in Japanese.
Thank you tanasho - still, the fact that all of the JYOKA that I have looked at in the files you've linked all have pottery bases leaves me questioning if that is what they are. Did you hear back from your Japanese friends?
Hello I wanted to have a little bit of input on these gorgeous pieces of Art my dad's girlfriend who has very good taste I might had gave me a very similar piece but mine has a spike in the center of the top flower so yous probably originally did too. This would lead me to think that they werent originally lamps. Hope this helps.
And also mine's numbered on the bottom 319006.
Thank you. Would it be possible for you to send me an image of your piece? I don't know if it is ok to exchange emails here. If not I am sure they will let me know. Does the spike screw in to the top? I have decided to convert mine to lamps, but would like to see one in its original condition. I'm also hoping the number on the bottom might help determine its origin. If you could include a shot of the bottom and the number that would be awesome. Thank you. manrtist@gmail.com
Look into Marbro Lamp Co. of California. I have this in a floor lamp and I believe they sold it, C. 1950's Gilt over Bronze Lotus Lamp. They imported the base from Japan and then assembled the lamps here in the US. They traveled the world to find items to incorporate into their lamp making. They were very high end makers of lamps during that era out of Los Angeles Ca. I'm not sure how to post a photo, or I would show you mine.