A monumental ceramic TOTEM floor lamp by Bernard Rooke, mid-20th century England. The round elements are decorated on one side with a wheel or seed pod motif and crackled blue/green glass on the other. This an early model, with hand-formed elements; later pieces being mould-formed.
The lamp has a nice aged character, with weathering and flaws from time, use and the hand-crafting and firing process. Typical flaws in these pieces include rough spots, fine cracks and knocks to the blocks, usually around the corners/edges of the components. We have categorised this piece as in fair condition to draw attention to these points. See images (and zoom in) for examples of details and overview.
New wiring will be required to suit your local needs and regulations.
The piece is shown with a simple hessian shade, newly made to mirror typical age-appropriate designs. The shade fits through a ring on the lamp-holder.
Approximate dimensions:
Complete lamp with shade: 160cm (approximate)
Ceramic only: H 108cm x W 26cm at base x D 24.5cm at base
Shade only: H 50cm x Dia at base 35cm
Bernard Rooke was born in 1938, and studied ceramics at Goldsmiths College in London. In 1960 he set up a workshop in Forest Hill sharing with another pottery artist, Alan Wallwork. Rooke made progressive sculptural work and early pieces were hand-fashioned using coils and blocks. His work is found in private collections as well as museums and galleries around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
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