Antique 1940's Ward & Goldstone Bakelite Table Lamp + 1960's Poole Pottery Helios Shade "PIN"

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INTRO:

This sleek and stylish 1940-50's Bakelite and table lamp by Ward & Goldstone is a fabulous example of midcentury design. Presented in sumptuously glossy black Bakelite with striking brass detailing, this wonderful table lamp would be a real feature in any midcentury home. I have paired the lamp with a 1960's Poole Pottery Helios polyplastic shade to create a striking, one-of-a-kind table lamp.

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A BIT OF HISTORY:

Ward & Goldstone was one of Salford’s biggest industrial employers. Founded in 1882 by James Ward & Meyer Hart Goldstone, W&G manufactured a range of electrical goods, including cable, plastic mouldings for plugs and car parts. It was a big supplier to Woolworth’s. The iconic Frederick Road factory closed in 1986, but the firm continues to exist in a form as part of Ionix (formerly Volex).

During the 1930's, Woolworth's were the first firm to spot the potential of new wonder material, Bakelite, which spawned a highly diverse selection of items. Bakelite was an early form of plastic. It could be moulded into any shape when molten and dried to a durable, rock hard finish. Initially the firm ordered a selection of cups and beakers, going on to stock a wide range of electrical plugs, sockets and switches, mainly a dark plain brown colour. But over time suppliers came forward with much more imaginative uses for the new material.

At the time Bakelite was revolutionary. For the first time chemists had devised a material which could be shaped and coloured when molten, and would dry completely solid, smooth and robust. It could withstand knocks and scrapes and generally would not break unless it fell onto a stone floor with considerable force. As well as the switches and sockets, presented in its natural dark brown colour, the material was used to create best-selling, brightly coloured oven-to-tableware and a range of remarkably elegant costume jewellery.

The enduring legacy of Poole Pottery is almost as dynamic as the vast, fabulously varied range of ceramics it produced. The company that eventually became known as Poole Pottery began life in 1873 as Carter & Company. By the mid-1880's, the company had established itself as a major player in ceramics marketplace, and was considered a serious competitor to even the most established ceramicists.

Despite changing times and tastes, the company endlessly adapted, surviving the financial and creative vacuums of both world wars. Sensing the seismic cultural and artistic shifts of the 1960's, the company formed a separate design studio, headed by designer Robert Jefferson, who worked in conjunction with artists Tony Morris and Guy Sydenham. The trio designed and produced stunning, avant-garde works (including the Helios lamp series) that remain highly sought after to this day. Jefferson eventually left Poole in 1966, as he had in his own words "designed himself out of a job". He continued on with a highly successful and celebrated painting career.

In 1963, the company officially rebranded as 'Poole Pottery'. Poole was sold at some of the world's most luxurious outlets, including Harrods, Selfridges and New York's own Bloomingdales. Sadly, like so many ceramicists before and after, Poole Pottery began losing money during the 1980's, and were simply unable to capture the same level of interest they once had so effortlessly commanded. Despite a flurry of buyouts and cash injections, Poole Pottery all but collapsed by the mid-2000's. In 2011, Poole Pottery was taken over by Denby Pottery.

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CONDITION:

The lamp is in pretty astonishing condition, given its vintage. The base has been fully disassembled and thoroughly cleaned. The Bakelite has been polished to a gorgeous semi-gloss shine, and the brass elements have been restored from grubby black to shining gold. Aside from a few very minor cosmetic scratches, it's very hard to believe this lamp is over 60 years old!

The Poole Pottery Helios shade is also in excellent vintage condition. There's some yellowing of the lower third, caused by previous use of a vintage (and likely too powerful) incandescent lamp, but I have removed the worst of it, and it's all but unnoticeable when the lamp is illuminated.

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THE TECHNICAL BIT:

PIN has undergone a significant but respectful restoration. The lamp had all vintage electrical components removed, and now feature a new, high quality black thermoplastic (matched perfectly to the Bakelite) E14/SES screw brass lamp holder (making the lamp compatible with bulbs sold in the UK, Europe and the US), extended slightly from the base to ensure maximum visibility once the Poole lampshade is attached.

PIN has been rewired with luxurious quality black cable (again, matched perfectly to the vintage Bakelite), featuring a high quality black inline rocker switch 20cm from the lamp base (and a further 1.3m to the matching transparent UK 3-pin plug). The plastic lamp holder requires only 2-core flex, as this is a new Class 2 appliance. The lamp has been thoroughly PAT tested and approved (with a sticker affixed near the plug to show the PASS status). Components comprise of a British-made and certified lamp holder and plug, and Italian-made cable and switch, which have passed or exceeded relevant CE and EU electrical integrity tests.

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DIMENSIONS:

Height: 55cm (Base + Shade)
Width: 14cm
Depth: 14cm
Weight: 1KG


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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 and ceramics 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.