Taylor & Tunnicliff Fairy Lamps

Very little is known about the history of the Taylor Tunnicliff & Company during the late 1880's - 1890's. It was during this period that they were commissioned by Samuel Clarke to make custom designed pottery bases for his fairy lamps. They made only the pottery bases, not the shades.

These four examples are all pyramid-size (2.25" d. shade) "floral bases" used to hold flowers in the open area of the base around the fairy lamp. The bases were sold separately allowing the customer to select which of Clarke's shades to put on it. However, Clarke always illustrated these pottery bases with Webb's Burmese shades in his advertisements. These four examples are c.1888

The bases came in both pyramid and fairy size in a variety of different models with different tapestry designs and colors. All of the Taylor & Tunnicliff bases are stamped with the Clarke trademark in the lamp cup and stamped with the Taylor & Tunnicliff trademark on the bottom.

Jim
www.fairylampclub.com
www.fairylampforum.com