Mercury Glass Antique Table Lamp, Galleon & Ship, Handblown, 1920`s Ca, English, Rewired
London, United Kingdom
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Dimensions
Wear Condition
Good
Material
Glass
Style
Art Deco, Vintage, Oriental, Hollywood Regency
Product Details
Description
Mercury glass antique table lamp, handblown glass with hand painted galleon & ship decoration, 1920`s ca, English.
This antique lamp has been gently cleaned while respecting the aged patina. It is newly rewired, earthed, PAT tested by an electrician and ready to use. It has the following new components: brass lamp holder & cover, golden silk cable, black cord switch and black plug. Lightbulb included. This lamp could be used with a dimmer. It is possible to use this lamp in other countries with light bulbs suitable to local electricity.
This antique table lamp base is unique in that it is made from Mercury glass, probably in England around the 1920`s. It is rare to find this material in lamps; mostly it is found in vases or candlesticks. The handblown Mercury Glass portion with the galleon & sailing boat paintings could be of earlier date as it has a good antique patina.
Antique Mercury Glass is hand blown double walled, with a liquid silvering solution in between. The result here is a delicate & smart lamp base, a decorative addition for an office, lounge or bedroom. Silvered "Mercury" glass is considered one of the first true "art glass" types, that is, glass that was made for display and for its inherent artistic value rather than for utilitarian use. This lamp would suite a range of interiors such as Antique, Art Deco, Hollywood Regency, Country or Contemporary.
At the focal point is the handblown silvered Mercury glass with an exquisite hand painted galleon decoration on the front and a sailing boat on the back. The slightly irregular shape of the globe proves the fact of being handmade. Each painting displays quality & great attention to detail, with a painted sea of white frothing, blue & green sea running all around the diameter of the base creating movement.
At the top of the glass base there is the original brass attachment with a new antique toned brass lamp holder & cover. The removable metal lamp shade carrier is secured in place by two brass rings that screw to the lamp holder. On this carrier sits the original vintage lamp shade. It is a beige silk shade with scalloped edge outlined with green & gold trims. There is fringe layered beige on the outside with green fringe in the background, plus accented with green tassels. This combination of beige & green complements the colours of the painted sea of the glass base. This lamp shade is lined with beige fabric. The lamp shade easily lifts off the carrier when needed.
The glass base is fitted to a circular polished solid mahogany turned wooden platform. Underneath the lamp base is padded with new black felt to protect the furniture below.
This lamp carries 1 standard small screw light bulb (E14) up to 60 Watts. At present it is fitted & photographed with a Candle Clear shaped light bulb of 28 Watts. This is included in the price. It is possible to use other E 14 bulb shapes.
This antique lamp is in very good condition for its age. The Mercury glass base is sound with no chips or cracks. The patina developed over the years has been preserved with minor fading to the silver & tiny marks in line with age & wear. The paintings are in good condition with a warm antique patina & almost no rubbing to them. The wooden base is in good condition with minor marks in line with age. The vintage lampshade is in good condition with no cuts or major stains on the fabric, and a few regular tiny dots developed over the years mostly on the lining inside.
Additional dimensions:
The total Height of the lamp with the shade on is: 62 cm.
The base alone without the shade is: Height: 37 cm, Width: 21 cm, Depth: 21 cm
The lampshade alone is: Height: 30 cm, top diameter: 21 cm, bottom diameter: 40 cm.
Packing is offered free of charge. We take special professional care while packing. For safe transport the base & lampshade would be wrapped separately in bubble wrap, foam and an outer layer of card. Together these parts would easily fit into a box with loose fill packing nuts, safe for posting with a courier. We ship with reliable couriers (signed for, tracked & insured).
MAIN DELIVERY CHARGES:
UK Mainland: £ Free
European Union: £ 80
United States/Canada: £ 130
Australia: £ 250
Japan: £ 180
Rest of the World please enquire.
MERCURY GLASS HISTORY
Mercury was never used to create tableware. Silvered glass was free-blown, then silvered with a solution containing silver nitrate and grape sugar in solution, heated, then closed. Sealing methods include metal discs covered with a glass round or a cork inserted into the unpolished pontil scar. "Mercury" silvered glass was originally produced in 1840 until at least 1930 in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), Germany and was also manufactured in England from 1849. Silvered mercury glass from Bohemia was decorated with techniques including painting, enameling, etching, and engraving.
The technique for silvering glass was patented by Edward Varnish and Frederick Hale Thomson in 1849. The double walled blanks furnished by James Powell. The English examples usually cased with a layer of coloured glass in tones of red, blue, amethyst and green then cut to silver. English maker`s include E. Varnish & Co., Thomson, and Thomas Lund of London.
In the United States, companies like the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company, New England Glass Company, Union Glass Co., made silvered glass from1850`s to the 1880`s.
TAXES & DUTIES:
Please kindly note when purchasing from outside the United Kingdom that the purchase price paid here on this directory does not cover any possible local taxes, tariffs or import duties which will be the buyer's responsibility. If there are any duties to pay on this item, the courier will contact the buyer prior to delivery, while this item is in transit to pay these duties in order to release it from customs and proceed with the delivery.
Condition report:
very good condition for its age. The Mercury glass base is sound with no chips or cracks. The patina developed over the years has been preserved with minor fading to the silver & tiny marks in line with age & wear. The paintings are in good condition with a warm antique patina & almost no rubbing to them. The wooden base is in good condition with minor marks in line with age. The vintage lampshade is in good condition with no cuts or major stains on the fabric, and a few regular tiny dots developed over the years mostly on the lining inside.
Additional dimensions information:
The total Height of the lamp with the shade on is: 62 cm. The base alone without the shade is: Height: 37 cm, Width: 21 cm, Depth: 21 cm The lampshade alone is: Height: 30 cm, top diameter: 21 cm, bottom diameter: 40 cm.
Wear Condition
Good
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Additional Delivery Info from Seller
Estimated delivery time
Less than one week
Free collection available
Yes
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Reviews
5.0
Based on 2 reviews
Wear conditions
Excellent
Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.
Good
May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.
Average
Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.
Apparent Wear and Tear
Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.
Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.
Cancellations and Returns
Last updated: 12/02/2026
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14-day return guarantee
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