Posted 15 years ago
antiquefre…
(11 items)
I just had to show off one of my favorites. I was visiting a friends shop in Milwaukee. While we were talking she had mentioned that one of the dealers had brought in a few new lamps. She pointed me in the direction of the booth. I walked over to where she had directed me. This lamp had caught my eye immediately. I was afraid to look at the price tag, this was 1997, lamp prices were still a little high. I picked up the shade and saw the signature, Handel Mosserine, U.S. Patent No. 115818 Foreign Patents. It was then signed again Handel No. 2325. I knew I had found a treasure.
A couple of years ago I ran in to a dealer I knew and told him of my find. He was shocked that I found this particular lamp at the price I paid for it. He gave me a little information about it, he knew tons about Handels' his parents collect them. They have about 40 Handel Lamps of all types, my was one they have only heard of, never seen. He had said that it is the second rarest shade made by Handel. For one reason to make this shade of red you had to put gold in the glass mixture. Considering there was a war was starting to brew in Europe the price of gold was high. There fore the amount of shades made in red are very few. Now the kicker I know you have been waiting for the price I paid well here it is. I paid a whole, after 10% discount..........$65. When I saw the price tag I just about giggled myself to death. I couldn't imagine a antique dealer selling any Handel for $65. The owner of the store didn't know what a Handel is. While I was a being checked out by the sales person Traci grabbed a antiques guide and looked up Handel(I didn't know she was doing this), I heard a loud "What?"! Mark do you know what your buying, coolly I said Yes I did! She asked my why I didn't tell her what this lamp was? I just said I was a little in shock myself and forgot.
cool lamp - how about showing off some more of your favorites? do you only collect lamps, or other things too?
Thanks, I collect may things. Furniture, art glass, pressed glass, Haviland, art fabrics, etc... I collect almost everything made before 1925.
Hello antiquefreak66, the number 2325 would put the manufacture date around 1915. You are correct that a Mosserine shade in this shape is rare. If you could, a clearer photo of it would be lovely. The base appears to be a Miller to me. This shade is to good for the base: you need to find a fine early Handel base for this shade. Also, lose the fringe, it will look better with the simple beauty that it has. Very nice find!
Oh and also, you thought you were going giggle yourself to death, you have better control than me. I probably would have dropped dead of a heart attack trying to reach for my wallet fast enough. I just keep coming back to this shade and dreaming.