Vintage Table Lamp From The French Silversmithing House Ercuis, Circa 1970

This piece is a rare vintage table lamp from the French silversmithing house Ercuis, featuring a geometric base made of silver-plated metal and topped with a white pleated ceramic dome shade.

This lamp bears the Ercuis Vis et versa stamp on the base, it is likely a rare vintage collector’s item or an exclusive light fixture produced in a limited edition for a major retailer, a luxury hotel, or a transatlantic liner (sectors for which the company designed numerous custom pieces)

The lampshade, crafted from white porcelain, features a vertical pleated relief inspired by organic forms or seashells.
The base, a cylindrical central stem made of silver-plated metal, secured to a sturdy square base made of silver-plated metal, assembled with four exposed screws

The four screws protruding from the silver-plated metal base are not merely aesthetic. They are a defining feature of the “Vice & Versa” collection, symbolizing the successful fusion of traditional tableware craftsmanship with a bold industrial/technical design for the 1970s

It quickly specialized in tableware and luxury silverware to compete with Christofle, the historic supplier to grand luxury hotels (such as the Ritz), shipping companies (the ocean liner Normandie), and the Orient Express.