ANT-918 VERY Scarce Virden Art Deco Chateau Sconces
Being reluctant to use the word “rare” since it is way over-used in the antique business, let’s just say that these sconces are very scarce indeed.
Virden made them Circa 1930-5. They called the TWO fixtures that were in “this line: “Chateau”...i.e... “The Chateau Line”. In only a few of their catalogs, of that age, is there ONE page that shows ONE chandelier (with two mounting options) and this sconce. That’s it. Only two items in the line.
Made in very limited numbers, this pair of sconces are very un-common indeed. Courtesy of “Kelly Art Deco Lighting Museum”.
The frames were always cast iron with what Virden called a “Bank Bronze Finish”. Bank Bronze is a red bronze finish with darkened accents. The finish of these sconces is gorgeous. The shade is oh-so-unique. It is a TRUE opal shade. Opals as we know, sometimes show "fire" when light goes thru the stones. Well...so do these shades when a light is applied. They have a red fire with a bit of color that shows thru them. It is the only shade, in the Art Deco slip shade manufactory, that does this. And this shade is also MUCH taller than almost every other slip shade of the slip shade era.
Virden called this special shade: “Ivory” and it is the very first time we have offered these sconces, with this shade. We had a pair of these sconces last year with amber shades and they sold quite quickly. Now with a rarer shade, we think that they should sell to a sophisticated collector a mite quicker.
Virden was a larger company...so...we do not know why this Chateau line is so scarce. Perhaps they dropped it during the depression...Perhaps there was a problem with the larger size of the shade for the smaller 20s-30s apartments or the era....or in the making of them due to their glass size.
We just know...scarce. These are the very first Ivory Shade Chateau sconces that we have ever sold. The only other known sconce and chandelier are in the Kelly Art Deco Lighting Museum.
Electrical: These Chateau sconces have been totally re-wired in our UL shop. New normal sockets for everyday medium base bulbs have been installed in each sconce along with a new rotary switch of the original kind.
Would suggest using a T10 long bulb to get the roary borealis effect to lengthen.
The sconces mount with one normal mounting all-thread to a normal electrical box. All mounting hardware will be supplied.
Measurements: 12 3/4” tall. The width is 6 1/2”. Projects into a room, from the wall, 4 1/4”.
Price: $ 1,500.00 For the complete pair of “scarce” Virden documented IVORY SHADE Chateau sconces: $ 1,500.00 plus careful packaging and shipping.
