Vintage 1960's Shattaline Table Lamp "SHATTALINE" (Small)

Hello, and thanks for stopping by lumenowl!

INTRO:

This gorgeous, iconic 1960's Shattaline lamp has been thoroughly cleaned, restored, rewired and improved upon, bringing it solidly into the 21st century.

Constructed from cast polyester resin, and presented in a fantastic warm yellow/orange with elements of pale red fractals, these are real statement lamps.

At first glance I *hated* these, but I took a punt on one as I thought it would be fun to restore and clean up. Once I received it, however, I completely fell in love with its kitschiness and how the mesmerisingly complex fractals inside the resin react to light. I'm now a total convert, but I've no doubt though these will still be the Marmite of lumenowl!

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A BIT OF HISTORY:

Shattaline, as a process, was discovered by sculptor and inventor Lewen Tugwell. A retired major in the British Army, (who had served in the UK and India), Tugwell was a talented sculptor of life and abstract pieces (and was three times exhibited at the Royal Academy).

Wanting to flex his creative muscles further, Tugwell began experimenting with cast polyester resin. This required a hardening catalyst which, when (accidentally) mixed incorrectly, caused three dimensional crazing or "shatter" within the casting. Instead of annoyance at this, Tugwell recognised the attractiveness of the shatter, saw an opportunity and set out to reproduce the effect under controlled conditions. He found that to get the exact type of shatter he desired, temperature and amounts were critical. Once the formula was set, he patented the process and registered Shattaline as a Limited Company to manufacture and market the wares. His wife Joan was a Director of the firm and managed much of the business side, whilst Lewen took charge of the creative and manufacturing elements. He was the only director of the company to be almost always present at the factory, very much a “hands-on” member of the team.


The most commonly produced Shattaline items were table lamps, which were marketed through Liberty's, Selfridges and many other high-end stores and boutiques.

Shattaline products have become collectable items of kitsch in recent times, but little is known about them, and stories persist of charity shop staff throwing them away as worthless "tat". Many still consider plastic to be a cheap, mass-produced option and, therefore, not a craft product or worthy of notice. That certainly isn't true of Shattaline. The process was labour-intensive, craft-based and resulted in a very high level of rejection, so it was costly. In fact, if you compare the manufacture of a simple Shattaline paper weight with throwing a clay pot, you can see that, maybe, these ‘plastic’ items should be much more highly regarded!


Abridged and adapted from Mike Andrews's fascinating first-hand Shattaline historical guide:


http://www.weydonian.net/shattaline/index.html


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CONDITION:

This particular SHATTALINE base is in fabulous condition, with only the smallest impact chip to the top plateau (shown in picture 8). Clearly, this particular unit has been very well looked after. The resin has been thoroughly polished and now shines up an absolute storm, looking unreal when hit with either artificial or natural light.

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THE TECHNICAL BIT:

This SHATTALINE has had all existing electrical components and fixtures removed. I'll never understand why someone would create an amazing lamp base, only to then stick a hideous plastic lamp holder atop of it! Gone too are the nauseating 'brass' coloured plastic elements, and in their place now sit real, polished brass fitments, and a gorgeous, machine milled brass E27 lamp holder, complete with shade rings to facilitate the addition of a lampshade.


SHATTALINE has been rewired with fabulous transparent 3-core cable (reminiscent of the original but now dangerously outdated 2-core variants originally used in this and many other lamps of this era), and features a high quality transparent inline rocker switch 20cm from the lamp base (and another 1m from the switch to the matching transparent UK 3-pin plug). The metal lamp holder is earthed using three-core cable, and SHATTALINE has been thoroughly PAT tested and approved (with a sticker affixed near the plug to show the PASS status). Components comprise of British-made and certified lamp holders, plugs and cables, and Italian made switches, which have passed or exceeded relevant CE and EU electrical integrity tests. Finally, the base has been re-felted and sealed to ensure smooth contact with surfaces.

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SPECIFICATIONS:

Height: 21cm
Width: 9cm
Depth: 9cm
Weight: 1.35KG

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LAMPSHADES:

If you're looking for a perfect shade to match your new lumenowl lamp, look no further than Etsy! The exact shade(s) modelled on the lamp can be found here:

littleredrobinco
15cm Neutral Linen Drum:
https://etsy.me/30CuUmW

ChipAndBabs:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1037968652
(15cm diameter x 18cm height)

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INTERNATIONAL BUYERS:

Whilst lumenowl lamps are by default wired for the UK market, I am more than happy to adapt for use the world over! Please get in touch prior to placing your order so I can advise on additional costs.

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EUROPEAN BUYERS:

lumenowl lamps are configured with both the UK and European market in mind, utilising E27/E14 lamp holders and inline on/off switches. Should you wish to purchase a lamp for use in mainland Europe, I will replace the UK 3-pin plug with that of the version native to your country free of charge. The lamp will then undergo another PAT test.

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NORTH AMERICAN BUYERS:

If you're purchasing from the Americas or Canada, I'll need to take additional steps to ensure your new lamp works as though you'd bought it locally. The cost to convert one lamp in this way is £20/$25, which can be added upfront to the listing price prior to purchase. The fee includes the following work:

- The removal of the EU/UK E27/ES brass lamp holder and replacing it with that of a brass US UL-certified E26 version. If the lamp features a EU/UK E14 lamp holder, I will provide a small brass E14 to E12 adapter, enabling the use of standard US E12/Candelabra bulbs.
- The fitting of a harp saddle to facilitate the addition of a harp and subsequently a lampshade.
- The stripping out of existing cabling and rewiring the lamp with white, UL-certified 2-core cable with a moulded 2-prong US plug and inline on/off switch.

The lamp will then undergo another PAT test.

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SHIPPING:

Every item is professionally wrapped, packaged and sent via UPS on a fully trackable service.

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DISCLAIMER:

Please note, when purchasing vintage glassware, earthenware, ceramics and wood etc., some age-related signs of wear such are to be expected. These include, but are not limited to; fine surface scratches/scuff marks, superficial chips, colour aberrations and dulling of parts that have been exposed to abrasive treatment. I ensure I list any aesthetic faults in both the descriptions and photographs, but please always satisfy yourself the item you are purchasing matches the description, of which the photographs form part of.