More mineral than machine, this mid-century table lighter encloses a Japanese mechanism within a substantial body of deep olive-green art glass. Broad planes of semi-translucent color give way to polished chrome, the lighter insert rising cleanly from the glass with instrument-like precision, and a purpose beginning and ending with a spark.
For a brief period, table lighters became an unexpectedly fertile corner of industrial design. Dunhill pursued mechanical ingenuity, Cartier clothed theirs in hardstone and precious metal, while glassmakers explored saturated color, exaggerated scale, and boldly simplified form. The category rewarded invention without demanding reinvention, allowing engineering and ornament to occupy the same object without competing for attention.
The pleasure is in the devilish details: the rounded shoulders of the glass, the clean rise of the mechanism, the way the color darkens at the base before warming near the edges. An act over in a flash, given uncommon material force.
Glass table lighter, c. 1960s
400 USD
More mineral than machine, this mid-century table lighter encloses a Japanese mechanism within a substantial body of deep olive-green art glass. Broad planes of semi-translucent color give way to polished chrome, the lighter insert rising cleanly from the glass with instrument-like precision, and a purpose beginning and ending with a spark.
For a brief period, table lighters became an unexpectedly fertile corner of industrial design. Dunhill pursued mechanical ingenuity, Cartier clothed theirs in hardstone and precious metal, while glassmakers explored saturated color, exaggerated scale, and boldly simplified form. The category rewarded invention without demanding reinvention, allowing engineering and ornament to occupy the same object without competing for attention.
The pleasure is in the devilish details: the rounded shoulders of the glass, the clean rise of the mechanism, the way the color darkens at the base before warming near the edges. An act over in a flash, given uncommon material force.
Mid-century olive-green art glass table lighter, c. 1960s. Thick blown glass body fitted with a Japanese lighter mechanism. Measures 7 inches tall (including lighter portion) and 3 inches wide measuring at base. Unmarked..
Measurements
Dimensions: 7 in. H × 3 in. base diameter.
Each Reserve collectible is thoughtfully custom-packaged to Jacques Marie Mage standards, with tailored care to each artifact. Each collectible is accompanied by a JMM Certificate of Authenticity and ID card.
