Taishō Roman Hand-Blown Glass Oil Lamp with Blue-Rimmed Lotus-Leaf Shade, Japan

A Japanese hand-blown glass oil lamp full of the Taishō Roman atmosphere. Its lines are long and elegant; standing 54 cm tall, on the floor or on a table it resembles a young woman in a long dress of mixed Japanese and Western style. The most striking feature is the blue-rimmed lotus-leaf shade above: its edge is hand-blown into an undulating lotus-leaf shape and outlined in deep blue, so that when light falls on the folds the blue looks like spray lifted by the wind, transparent and light. The shade shifts from clear at the top to frosted white in the lower half, diffusing the light softly when lit so that it is never harsh, and producing a gentle, misty glow.

Features

Strongly in the Taishō Romance style

The blue-rimmed lotus-leaf shade, hand-painted flowers and antique bronze burner together are a very typical expression of the romantic, Western-influenced taste favoured in the Taishō period, and will suit collectors drawn to the mood of Taishō and early Shōwa Japan.

Hand-blown lotus-leaf shade with blue rim, instantly recognisable

The wavy lotus-leaf form with its vivid blue rim is the visual focus of the piece. This combination of shape and coloured edge is relatively uncommon on the market and easy to recognise; the shade alone has collecting value.

Hand-painted floral motifs with a warm touch

The flowers on the central oil font and on the base are painted by hand, and the brushwork and shifts in tone are clearly visible, quite unlike a printed pattern. They add the lived-in feeling of an object that has truly been used.

54 cm tall, a piece with real presence

Compared with an ordinary table oil lamp, this piece is notably more slender and tall, and will naturally draw the eye whether placed in a living room, an entrance hall or a corner of a shop.

Usable as a working oil lamp, and equally suited to display alone

The burner assembly is intact; if desired, the wick and oil font may be checked before the lamp is actually lit. Used purely as a display piece, its complete composition and harmonious colouring also make it very effective.

◆ Suggested settings and placement

Living room / reading corner

Placed on a side table by the sofa or on a small table in a reading corner, the blue-rimmed shade and floral motifs fill the corner with a sense of story even when unlit; lit at night, they create a softly nostalgic, romantic light.

Entrance hall / end of a corridor

At 54 cm tall it works very well as the focal object at the end of a view, and can be paired with an old wooden cabinet, an antique mirror or dried flowers to give the feeling of stepping into a small Western-style house on coming home.

Cafés / select shops / guesthouses in old buildings

As a visual focus beside a counter, by a window or on a stair landing, it extends the atmosphere of the space and often becomes the starting point of a conversation with guests, which does much for a shop's image.

Set dressing and photographic prop

Well suited as a background prop for retro-themed shoots, East-meets-West styling or book photography; the blue rim and floral motifs stand out clearly in the frame.

Specifications

Dimensions	L 15.3 × W 15.3 × H 54 cm