W. A. S. Benson – Arts and Crafts Brass Swan Table Light with Heart-Shaped Base
£1,000
Table light in patinated brass by W. A. S. Benson from the Arts and Crafts movement (1880–1910), c.1900. The structure forms a swan-like curved arm rising from a heart-shaped base, terminating in an adjustable socket head for shade fitting. The design combines fluid natural line with mechanical precision, hallmarks of Benson’s lighting vocabulary.
Benson, one of the foremost figures of the Arts and Crafts movement, developed a wide range of domestic lighting distinguished by engineering clarity and sculptural grace. This piece exemplifies his ability to merge functional invention with aesthetic refinement, the hand-finished patinated brass surface and characteristic organic profile illustrating the firm’s technical mastery and the movement’s moral emphasis on craftsmanship and material truth.
Width: 6 in (15.24 cm)
Depth: 6 in (15.24 cm)
1900-1909
