Antique Brass Scissor Wall Lamp from a Ship’s Chart Room, Circa 1900 | Polished, Rewired
Antique Brass Scissor Wall Lamp from a Ship’s Chart Room, Circa 1900 | Polished, Rewired
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This brass scissor lamp once lit the chart table on board a ship, where navigators plotted their course by its light. It dates from around 1900 and is the real thing, not one of the new brass replicas sold today.
At a glance
| Origin | Chart room of a ship |
| Produced | Circa 1900 |
| Material | Brass and copper |
| Finish | Shade and fittings sandblasted and polished to a mirror finish; scissor arms left matte |
| Wiring | Rewired, E27 fitting, switch added |
| Bulb | Any standard LED or incandescent bulb; bulb shown in photos included |
| Adjustability | Scissor arm extends, shade tilts in different angles |
| Wall mount height | 17 cm |
| Shade diameter | 15 cm |
| Reach | Up to 80 cm |
| Condition | One ring with threaded stop is missing (right-hand side in photos); this does not affect use |
| Price | Per lamp. The photos show two lamps; the price is for one |
| Availability | One of one, once sold this exact piece will not return |
| Import duty | Payable by the buyer in their own country (outside the EU) |
The story
On a ship, the chart room needed light that could be pulled over the table and pushed back against the bulkhead when not in use. Scissor lamps in brass were the answer: compact, robust and resistant to sea air. Original examples are scarce, and many brass scissor lamps on the market today are new.
The restoration
We sandblasted every part and polished the shade and fittings to a mirror shine, leaving the scissor arms matte. The contrast between polished and matte brass is deliberate. Photos from before the restoration are available on request.
In your interior
Beside a bed, above a desk or in a library, the warm brass adds a nautical note without looking themed.