• Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp with a tall wood and brass column cream drum shade and round base in vintage mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp with a wood column brass details cream drum shade and round wood base in mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp with a wood and brass column cream drum shade and round wood base in mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp close up of its cream column brass tray and warm wood stem in mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp with a slender wood column brass tray exposed socket and round wood base in mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp detail showing the sculpted warm wood column and dark electrical cord in mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp with a tall wood column brass socket tray and round wood base in mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp with a sculptural walnut column brass tray exposed socket and round wood base in mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp with sculptural walnut column brass tray exposed socket and round wood base in mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp with walnut column brass tray exposed socket and round wood base in mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp closeup of its warm walnut column and articulated ratchet hardware in mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp with sculptural walnut column brass tray exposed socket and round wood base in mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp detail of its sculpted walnut column and dark metal ratchet hardware in mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp closeup showing a sculpted walnut column ratchet hardware and rounded wood base with brass trim in mid century modern lighting
  • Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp with slender walnut column brass tray exposed socket ratchet hardware and round wood base in mid century modern lighting
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Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp

Francis Elkins Attributed Ratchet Table Lamp

$895.00 USD
$895.00 USD
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- Shade not included -

Vintage adjustable ratchet table lamp attributed to American interior designer Frances Elkins, constructed in walnut with brass and copper components. Ratchet lamps associated with Elkins are documented with carved notches that allow the height of the light to be mechanically adjusted, with comparable examples generally dating from the late 1930s through the 1940s.

This example uses a tall walnut upright mounted to a broad circular walnut base. As shown in the photographs, the base is turned with a shallow dished profile and finished along its lower perimeter with a brass band. The walnut displays prominent grain throughout, while circular brass hardware connects the upright to the base.

The lamp's defining feature is its adjustable ratchet mechanism. A series of stepped notches are carved directly into the front of the walnut upright, while a bent metal retaining arm engages the notches to establish different height positions. The photographs show the lamp in both its lowered and extended configurations, with the upper assembly traveling vertically along a dark copper-toned metal shaft. 

Above the walnut support is a brass stem terminating in a shallow, dish-shaped metal bobeche. A tall off-white candle sleeve surrounds the socket assembly, while the brass socket and harp support remain visible when the shade is removed. The rear photographs also show the metal guide structure and electrical cord running vertically behind the walnut upright.

The combination of walnut, brass, and aged copper provides clear contrast between the wood and metal components, while the exposed adjustment hardware remains an integral part of the construction. The lamp is shown with a cylindrical neutral fabric shade that maintains a compact table-lamp proportion even when the ratchet mechanism is raised.

Materials

Walnut, Brass, & Copper

Dimensions

Base Diameter: 8"
Height Minimum: 21.5"
Height Maximum: 25"
Height Increments: 1.25" (4 Steps)

Condition

Excellent

Definitions

Country of Origin

United States

Date of Manufacture

1950s

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