L.Vandamme & Degué

A nice pair of authentic 1925-1935 French art deco wall sconces in nickel plated solid brass or bronze holding two slip shades in clear frosted molded-pressed glass by Degué. The company directed David Guéron, founded around 1924. Guéron employed the ceramist and designer Edouard Cazaux as his artistic director and head designer after the designer Delvaux left the firm and started his own company. In 1936 production stopped and the Degue company finally closed in 1939. This rare model is represented in the old Degué catalog under #588.  The original Degué ones are always signed. Which in this case is very important because between about 1990 and 2010 the French glass factory Vianne produced unsigned copies of it. For which the firm Arta (in Marseille and later Roubaix) made nickeled and gilt solid brass mounts. These new made lamps in art deco style were sold in high volumes in numerous lighting shops allover France. Of course, this modern Arta-Vianne edition is without any value. But nowadays we can find them frequently offered by antique dealers for astronomic prices. Presented being authentic 1930 Degué ones. The new Vianne shades are ever so easy to recognize though. They are unsigned. And unlike the Degué original the inside of the Vianne shade is frosted as well. 

Both shades of my pair are signed Degué and marked "Compiegne France 588" on the backside of the rim.

 The sconces were designed and produced by the Paris France (rue Popincourt) based lighting manufacturer Louis Vandamme. It is represented in the 1932 Vandamme catalog. The catalogs are of course no part of this sale. We can see the VL foundry marks of Vandamme on the inside of the mounts.

The sconces are 31,5 cm (12,4 inches) high 22 cm (8,66") wide and 10 cm (3,94") deep. They are in very good condition. I have re-nickeled and patinated the fixtures. The fixtures come rewired. For the USA Canada or Japan placed American candelabra base sockets. For European countries I will place E14 ones.