WHITE STAR LINE: WHITE STAR LINE: Extremely important R.M.S...

Hammer

£31,000

WHITE STAR LINE:

WHITE STAR LINE: Extremely important R.M.S. Olympic ormolu and cut-crystal light fixture or electrolier from the ship’s fabled First-Class Lounge, most likely manufactured by the firm, N Bert and Company, circa 1911. This fixture is identical to those installed within the Titanic’s own First-Class Lounge. This is THE finest light fixture to ever appear on the open market since the original 1935 ship’s dispersal sale. Most Olympic light fixtures, although rare, are stock examples ordered through the top manufacturers of the day. This fixture however was bespoke, along with those ordered for Titanic, and one assumes for Britannic, and designed solely for the “Olympic” class.

In an umbrella or “handkerchief” form, hand engraved and chased seashell and seaweed/leaf-scroll motifs on each of the eight hobnail-cut crystal panels. Each panel is mounted within an ormolu frame, that is lined with green velvet to stop the crystal panels “chattering” while the ship was at sea. On the ceiling mount are strings of cut crystal beads, and mounted ormolu swags to disguise the bulb holders from view, the fixture crowned by a crystal faceted orb finial, the bottom of which incorporates a five-point star, for the White Star Line. With seven original bulb holders. This light fixture was one of only four of this design and shape as installed within the First-Class Lounge as built in 1911. Each of these fixtures sat in the room's extreme corners, three over the room entrances, over the famous carved panelling of triumphal regalia of musical instruments and maidens head, that on the ill-fated sister ship, Titanic, would form the basis of the floating debris used by Rose in Cameron’s “Titanic” of 1997, the original of which now resides in the museum of the North Atlantic, in Halifax Nova Scotia, in the other corner. These four fixtures were designed ensuite with larger examples that were installed around the sides of the lounge, and then accompanied by a tour de force large electrolier in the same style, that can be seen today in the Silver Vestibule, Cutlers Hall, Sheffield. The large central light fixture and other fixtures now in Sheffield are highly unlikely ever to come onto the open market. Provenance: Recently rediscovered within a private residence on Lanchester Road, Lanchester, Durham. In situ since being purchased by the family at the Ward’s auction of 1935. 50cm diameter, 38cm high.