R. Ito or S. Riosetts Fujiura for Van Briggle Pottery

Rare lamp shade

USA, c. 1904-1909

hand-hammered and pierced copper

8 h × 14 w × 14 d in

Artus Van Briggle’s pottery designs were inspired by Colorado and the West. He used matte glazes in the muted colors of the dry landscape, and the motifs on the pots were mostly flora and fauna native to Colorado, including columbine, aspen leaves and, as on this lamp base, poppies. Van Briggle pottery was originally made from Colorado clay, shaped in a plaster mold and fired in a kiln for 40 hours. The Van Briggle Pottery made a little-known line of lamps between 1903 and 1909. In 1904, two Japanese metal craftsmen, Mr. R. Ito and Mr. S. Riosetts Fujiura, were hired to work at Van Briggle. Mr. Fujiura or Mr. Ito handmade this patinated brass lamp shade with a combination of punch work, hammered brass and cut-outs, mimicking patterns from Van Briggle pots for each base. Mr van Briggle hired these Japanese metal workers from Tokyo, Japan. Ito and Fujiura are credited with executing all these extremely rare hammered and pierced shades. Unsigned. Several small dents throughout. Excellent original patina.

Please look at photos. Ask if you have questions. I don’t know if the inside of the lamp is completely original, as I have seen no other interiors. The wires seem to have been rewelded on at some point and one of the wires has broken off it’s end. Repairable, and does not distract from the beauty of this ~115 year old well loved and used lampshade.

I have included two auction listings for the only two other lampshades that I found on the internet, so you can see for yourself that this is the real deal. These lampshades are far rarer than a 1903 clay pot or a 1907 copper vase. I have grown incredibly fond of this lampshade, and the memories of reading to my children under its glow. I didn’t price this to sell tomorrow, but to the discerning collector, you know what you’re looking at here- one of the rarest pieces in the works of Van Briggle that is dated at the peak of their performance.

literature: "Van Briggle's Unknown Metalworkers," McClary and Hurst, Journal of the American Art Pottery Association, Vol. 27, No. 1, ppg. 26-31 A Collector's Guide to Van Briggle Pottery, Nelson et. al.