Large column lamp, by Philippe Barbier, Maison Barbier, France, circa 1960/1970

Rare large turned travertine lamp and nickel-plated metal, in the form of an antique column.

Recent off-white cotton lampshade remade to match the original.

Total height: 165 cm (65 inches - 5.42 feet)
Dimensions of the base: 24.5 cm (9.65 inches x 9.65 inches)
Lampshade diameter: 48 cm (18.9 inches)

Biography

Philippe Barbier

Master craftsman Philippe Barbier created table lamps used on the sets of many French films, as well as furniture and decor like coffee tables and candle holders. The furniture designer and producer worked in Paris throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He was known for using steel to make his pieces shine.

Barbier operated a small studio called Maison Barbier in central Paris, rue du Pré aux Clercs. In addition to making his own furniture, he sold the work of other designers. Maison Barbier was notably the first to distribute the emblematic Tam-Tam 1968 stool by French designer Henry Massonnet. Barbier also participated in the design of the stool, which is still in production today.

Barbier’s lamps were highly regarded for their unique designs, often characterized by elegant curves and stone or polished metal bases. Their striking shapes have attracted the attention of many film directors. Films in which Barbier’s lamps appear in the background include Le Retour du Grand Blond (1974), Peur Sur La Ville (1975), Nous Irons Tous Au Paradis (1977), Le MAC (2010), and Dans La House (2012).