Antique Arts and Crafts/Art Nouveau Birmingham Guild of Handicraft BGH Brass No. 6 Wall Lantern/Light c. 1900, 42cm high. 
 
A beautiful & rare antique Arts and Crafts/Art Nouveau hand planished brass wall lantern/light designed by Arthur Stansfield Dixon of the Birmingham Guild of Handicraft (BGH), Birmingham, England, c. 1905.  No. 6 in the original Birmingham Guild of Handicraft trade catalogue (source V&A museum).

The wall light retains its original tempered glass, light fittings, beuatiful hinges and catch mechanism for the base opening door.  The condition is easily the best to emerge from the few examples seen on the open market. 

A superb example of Arts and Crafts/Art Nouveau Birmingham Guild of Handicraft metalwork.  

Marks: Clearly stamped B.G.H. mark on reverse.

Size: 42cm high x 23.5cm wide x 18cm deep. 

Condition: In excellent condition, retaining its original tempered glass, light fittings, beautiful hinges and catch mechanism for the base opening door.  There are two minor fatigue marks to one side of the lantern.  Model number 6 in the original Birmingham Guild Catalogue (source V&A museum).  Please note that the lantern is sold unwired.  

The Birmingham Guild of Handicraft (BGH) was set up by master silversmith and architect Arthur Stansfield Dixon in Birmingham in 1890, having been inspired by his friend William Morris and master metalworker and architect Charles Robert Ashbee (founder of the Guild of Handicraft), both leading figures of the British Arts and Crafts Movement.  

The Birmingham Guild of Handicraft produced fine quality metalware and furniture, equal and if not superior to the work of contemporary W.A.S. Benson, capitalising on the revolutionary development of electricity as a new power source and the subsequent need for new electric light fittings.  Arthur Dixon was the chief designer and head of the metalwork workshop, working with other renowned craftsmen Albert Edward Jones and Thomas Birkett.  .