An exceptional early electric Edwardian self-righting gimbal wall lamp in highly ornate cast bronze with a beautiful coppery patina, probably made by Richard Perry, Sons & Co., London. It features heavily reeded elements throughout and an egg-and-dart motif around the base, and is paired with a period frosted glass shade with a curtain drape design.

Gimbal lamps, like this, use pivots and a heavy counterweight built into the design to maintain an upright position on sea-faring ships. It can be wall-hung on an integrated loop, with a trailing cable to your nearest plug socket, or used as a desk or table lamp if paired with a heavy modern smart-bulb that balances the counterweight (we tried it with a Philips Hue bulb for the photos).

The original switch on the bulb-holder works fine, and the lamp gives off a soft, inviting light when illuminated. It has been rewired with a generous length of Italian-made double insulated twisted cable in a vintage style with a decorative Rayon braid, but is not earthed due to the limitations of the original parts. As such, it works perfectly, but does not fully meet modern specs.