Notes for bidders Chalkware and plaster are far m

STIFFEL SOLID BRASS TURNED-COLUMN TABLE LAMP WITH ORIGINAL DRUM SHADE, SOCKET STAMPED " STIFFEL COMPANY" A tall brass table lamp in the traditional turned-column form Stiffel built its name on, with a slender fluted stem rising from a stacked series of ring-and-baluster turnings to a heavy round stepped base, all in solid brass with a warm polished finish. The socket is stamped " STIFFEL COMPANY" and is fitted with a two-wing shade support and a brown cord with a standard two-prong plug; a small brass switch or set screw sits at the side of the base. The shade is a tall cream drum of vertically slubbed silk-look fabric, edged top and bottom and along the vertical seam with woven metallic gold braid, and lined with a smooth cream liner over a wire spider fitting. Flaws include tarnish and dark mottled discoloration across the brass, heaviest on the stepped base where the finish is rubbed and clouded, small dark spots and rub marks on the column turnings, light soiling and faint spotting on the shade fabric with minor darkening at the top edge, and a slight sheen difference where the shade lining meets the seam. UNTESTED - the lamp has not been plugged in, the socket, switch, and cord have not been checked electrically, and the wiring should be inspected or replaced by a qualified person before use. Sold as one lamp with the shade pictured. Description Form: turned brass column lamp with stacked ring turnings, fluted stem, heavy round stepped base, two-wing brass shade support at the socket Shade: tall cream drum in vertically textured fabric with woven metallic gold braid trim at the top edge, bottom edge, and vertical seam, cream-lined with a wire spider fitting Cord and fittings: brown cord with a two-prong plug, brass socket shell, small brass control at the base side Marks: socket stamped " STIFFEL COMPANY" - no separate foil label, base decal, or model number is visible in the photographs, so no model or production date is claimed Size: estimated at approximately 32 to 34 in overall to the top of the shade, with the shade estimated at approximately 15 to 16 in across and the base at approximately 6 to 7 in Attribution note The Stiffel Lamp Company was founded in 1932 in Chicago by Ted Stiffel, a craftsman with a fine-arts background who had previously worked at Western Electric and the Nellie J. Kaplan lighting firm, according to the company's own history page and the designer biography on 1stDibs. Stiffel supplied Chicago department stores through the 1930s, opened a large factory in the 1940s producing lamps for national sale, and became a byword for solid brass quality in American homes, competing with the Frederick Cooper Lamp Company; designer Edwin J. Cole joined in 1948. The firm patented the pull-down Stiffel switch and invented the pole lamp, which Sears copied and which led to the 1964 United States Supreme Court case Sears v. Stiffel, as Brand & Trademark Report and 1stDibs both recount. Stiffel declared bankruptcy in 2000 and the brand was revived in 2013 in Linden, New Jersey. Collector references including 1stDibs and Antiques Know How note that Stiffel marks turn up on the socket, on the harp near the finial, on foil labels, or etched into the base, and that a socket mark alone is common because the foil labels often came loose - which matches this lamp, where the socket carries the mark and no base label survives. On that evidence this is a genuine Stiffel of the traditional brass column line, most consistent with the 1960s through 1980s production, though without a model number or label a firm date cannot be established. All identification, dating, and originality comments - including whether this shade is the shade originally sold with the lamp - are offered as the consignor's photo-based opinion and are not guaranteed. Bid on the item(s) as pictured. Notes for bidders Have the cord, plug, and socket checked or replaced by someone qualified before putting this lamp into service, since original mid-century lamp wiring is the one part of a brass lamp that reliably needs attention. Carry it by the column base with both hands and remove the shade first, since the shade support and socket are not made to take the weight. Leave the tarnish alone if you want the age to show; if you polish, use a proper brass polish sparingly and keep it off the socket and the fabric, and stop if you find the finish is a lacquer coat rather than bare brass, because polishing through lacquer leaves a patchy result. Clean the shade dry with a soft brush or a lint roller and never with water. Do not exceed the bulb wattage the socket is rated for once the wiring is verified. Only the item(s) pictured are included in this lot. Terms Sold as-is, where-is, with no warranty expressed or implied. All sales final. Please ask any questions before bidding. Buyer is responsible for pickup or shipping arrangements per auction terms.