Fulper Pottery (1899–1935), based in Flemington, New Jersey, was one of the most prolific, successful, and long-lasting art pottery houses in America. The firm had specialized in utilitarian pottery since the early nineteenth century. It was not until 1909 that the firm developed an art line called Vasekraft under the direction of William Hill Fulper II (1872–1928). Most of this line was simple, solid Oriental shapes with brightly colored glazes. But the lamps with glazed ceramic shades decorated with colored lead glass inlays were truly innovative forms.

Glass-filled holes in the ceramics create a stained-glass effect, outline geometric patterns, or natural images such as dragonflies and water lilies, motifs that evoke summer ponds full of life.

Fulper Pottery managed to find the perfect balance between high quality and efficient production. The company focused almost exclusively on simple, molded models decorated with a variety of unique glazes of its own design. There were six categories of glazes: Mirror, Flambé, Matte, Wistaria, and Crystalline. The colors of the glazes had their own names, such as Elephant’s Breath, Cat’s Eye, Blue of the Sky, and Mirrored Black. An almost infinite number of color variations could be achieved by combining or overlapping different glazes on a single mold.

The Fulper Pottery company, of course, produced not only the table lamps shown in the selection. And this was not even the main product of the company. In the category of artistic ceramics, interior items with crystal glazes were in much greater demand, mainly vases. But since today’s topic concerns lighting fixtures, I will cite a few more unusual lamps from this company.