Exceptional F. & C. Osler Satin Cut Crystal Plafonnier with Faraday & Son Reeded Brass Gallery
IG221816
A rare and beautifully composed plafonnier by Faraday & Osler — the merged entity formed when Faraday & Son and F. & C. Osler combined their considerable manufacturing expertise in the early twentieth century. The fitting exemplifies precisely what that merger produced at its best: a deeply cut fully satin crystal bowl of Osler quality set within a reeded cast brass gallery of distinctly Faraday character. A fitting of genuine rarity and refinement.
The Glass
The bowl is executed in thick hand-cut crystal with a fully satin finish to both interior and exterior surfaces — an unusual treatment that sets this piece apart from the more typical gloss exterior / satin interior combination seen in earlier Osler production. The exterior is worked with a bold overlapping petal relief, each lobe generously scaled with a heart-form profile, deeply defined and cleanly resolved — a design of greater sculptural softness than the fan-cut and scallop patterns seen in earlier Osler output. The fully satin surface diffuses light with exceptional evenness from every angle, the relief reading in soft shadow relief across the bowl face when illuminated. When lit, the petal forms glow individually at their centres, the warm light pushing through the satin glass with a quality that is immediately distinguishable from pressed or moulded production. This is hand-cut crystal to a standard that no longer exists.
The Frame
The gallery is unmistakably Faraday & Son metalwork — the construction and decorative vocabulary a direct match for the metalwork produced by Faraday in the Edwardian period and into the merger era. The ring is built from reeded flat brass bar — multiple parallel reeded sections running horizontally around the ring — joined at intervals by X-crossing bar details where the suspension arms meet the ring face. At the four suspension points sit pilaster-form column mounts, each with a stepped capital and base, providing the structural bracket through which the suspension chains attach. At the midpoints between the pilasters, cast floral rosette medallions are applied to the ring face. The suspension chains are flat link with ball connector details at intervals, rising to a domed brass ceiling plate with a reeded outer band, the whole terminating in a cast brass suspension ring. The brasswork carries a deep naturally aged patina throughout — dark and warm with areas of colour typical of long-aged brass.
Provenance
The combination of F. & C. Osler satin cut crystal with Faraday metalwork is characteristic of production from the Faraday & Osler merged entity, where the glass expertise of Osler's Birmingham operation was combined with Faraday's established metalwork and electrical fitting manufacture. Fittings of this type — with identifiable Osler glass in Faraday frames — represent some of the most refined output of the merger period.
Ideal For
- Principal reception rooms and drawing rooms
- Entrance halls and stairwells in period properties
- Country house and significant townhouse interiors
- Boutique hotels and heritage hospitality venues
- Luxury residential projects requiring a fitting of genuine provenance
Technical Specification
Maker
Faraday & Osler — Faraday & Son frame with F. & C. Osler satin cut crystal bowl
Origin
England
Era
Edwardian / early merger period, circa 1910–1920
Stock No.
To be confirmed
Glass Bowl Diameter
406mm (16.0")
Overall Diameter
457mm (18.0")
Minimum Drop
800mm (31.5")
Weight
Approx. 6kg
Bulb Holder
Single E27 Edison screw (LED compatible)
Material
Fully satin hand-cut crystal bowl · Reeded cast brass ring gallery · Pilaster column mounts with cast floral rosettes · Flat link suspension chains with ball connectors · Domed brass ceiling plate
Finish
Naturally aged brass with deep warm patina · Fully satin crystal bowl in excellent order
Condition
Very good antique condition. Bowl free from chips or cracks. Gallery, suspension hardware and ceiling plate all original and intact.
Wiring
Professionally rewired and ready for installation. We supply worldwide and wire to local standards on request:
- UK — B22 or E27, wired to BS 7671
- Europe — E27 configuration
- USA & Canada — E26 using UL-listed components where applicable
- Australia & New Zealand — local standard configuration
Please advise destination country at point of order.
Shipping
Free UK mainland shipping. Worldwide shipping available — please enquire for a quote. All items are professionally packed and dispatched via DHL or specialist courier. All shipments are fully insured through Secursus.
