Rare and exceptional, this is a Holophane two-part pendant pairing the 14 inch Crystal Bowl with a stiletto top. It hangs from a cast brass ring on a three-way chain hanger. Fitted with both pieces of glass, it's one of the most decorative combinations Holophane produced.
The Glass
The lower Crystal Bowl is pressed with deep pyramidal diamond prisms over its whole surface, so it breaks the light into a dense, faceted sparkle. Above it sits the stiletto top, whose fine radial prisms sweep down from the fitter neck to the rim. Both pieces carry the Holophane maker's marks and painted numbers. The bowl is stamped "Crystal Bowl" and the top is numbered 8214.
Close to the fitter neck, the top has a small fault from manufacture. It's a line that runs across the prisms rather than along them, and it's smooth to the touch. There's no loss of glass, no sharp edges, and the glass is structurally sound. It's shown in close-up in the images. Otherwise the glass is in excellent condition.
The Frame
The two pieces of glass meet in a cast brass band decorated with a running leaf motif. Three swept arms come off the band and carry the chain hanger up to a cast brass ceiling hook plate. The fitter gallery is cast with fluting and holds the top with three knurled thumbscrews. A twisted black flex rises to the ceiling plate.
Holophane
Holophane was founded on the prismatic glass research of André Blondel and Spiridon Psaroudaki in Paris in the 1890s. The company designed glass that controls and redirects light rather than just diffusing it. The Crystal Bowl was one of its most ornamental designs and is far less common than the standard industrial refractors.
Ideal For
- Entrance halls and stairwells with generous ceiling height
- Dining rooms, as a statement pendant over the table
- Restaurant, bar and hotel interiors
- Collectors of early prismatic lighting
Technical Specification
Maker: Holophane
Glass: Crystal Bowl lower with stiletto top (8214)
Glass Diameter: 14 inch (356mm)
Overall Diameter: approx. 17 inch (432mm), across the ring arms
Minimum Drop: 23⅝ inch (600mm), hung directly from a ceiling hook on the three-way hanger
Frame: Cast brass
Origin: England
Condition: Excellent. Minor manufacturing fault in the top glass, as described above.
Stock reference: IG221580
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.
