Chunk Jewel Lamp
Object NameChunk Jewel Lamp
Dateearly 20th century
MediumBronze inlayed or set with stones and glass cabochons
Dimensions19 x 18 in. (48.3 x 45.7 cm)
ClassificationsDecorative Arts, Metal
Credit LineGift of Estyl M. Wright. In the permanent collection, Brunnier Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University.
Object numberUM86.159
Status
On viewCulturepossibly Austrian
Label TextFrom the University Museums Collections Handbook, vol. 2, 2025:
Beginning in the late 1880s until the First World War (1914−1918), Europe and the United States witnessed the development of the Art Nouveau or “New Art” movement. Inspired by the organic, Art Nouveau style was synonymous with botanical forms–the natural world at its most intricate and sinuous. Art Nouveau’s foundation was in the Aesthetic Movement following the credo “art for art’s sake,” the Arts and Crafts Movement of hand-crafted objects, and the influx of Japanese design through exposure during world expositions. This “Chunk Jewel” lamp is likely Austrian in origin and by an unknown manufacturer but does reflect the aesthetic of the Art Nouveau Movement. The lamp features highly sculptural and beautifully crafted supports rising from the base—all realized in bronze. The domed shade and base have embedded jewel tone glass accents and cabochons that glow when illuminated.
PeriodArt Nouveau / Arts and Crafts
Locations
- (not entered) Iowa State University, Farm House Museum
