A good quality brass desk lamp bearing all the hall marks of a lamp by W.A.S Benson. The lamp is apparently unsigned and could have been original maunfactured in France or for the French market. The lamp is complimented with an original period English opalescent glass lampshade. England or France c.1900

Provenance:  W.A.S Benson produced lighting and sold in France with a shop in Paris. It is is unknown whether lights were maunufactured in France or exported from England. It is also possible that Benson gave liscence to one or more French manufacturers to copy it’s designs to sell directly to the French market.  This lamp bears the clear resemblance and quality to Benson.

Ht.(base)36cm/14in, Diam(base)19/7.5, Ht.(lampshade)9/3.5, W.12.5/5

Recommended :  1 x 4w L.E.D B22 Golf Ball Bulb

William Arthur Smith Benson, London

• William Arthur Smith Benson was an Arts and Crafts designer who campaigned with the National Exhibition of the Arts for “Crafts” to be exhibited as an art form which lead to the formation of the Arts and Crafts movement of the time.
• He originally studied Classics and Philosophy at Oxford but after finishing decided that he would be more suited to architecture, combining art and engineering, two of his interests.
• Benson began making metalwork and went on to set up his own workshop where he created and sold new designs specialising in the area of lighting.
• By 1900 Benson had reached his zenith both in England and on the continent. In Paris Benson’s light’s were displayed in Siegfrield Bing’s gallery “Maison L’art Nouveau”.
• Benson often, but not exclusively, used James Powell & Sons of Whitefriars to supply the glass lampshades for his fittings.
• Today Benson is considered to be the premier British arts and crafts lighting manufacturer of the period with his pieces being most sought after.