An antique Art Deco cast bronze banker's lamp, Style of IP Frink, circa 1920s-30s
The lamp is is in excellent condition. I had it rewired several years ago and was told it was a very valuable IP Frink bronze lamp. There are many IP Frink banker lamps made for bank lobby's and affixed to tables that I see go at auction for $3,000-$5000. This one is unique in that it has two inkwells, a pen well and, most notably, the top of the lamp is intricately engraved with leaves and flowers. I have been unable to find another one of its kind. IP Frink did make custom lamps and I'm told this lamp was likely custom made for a bank executive. I'd like to find out its value and will consider selling it if the price is right.
15"H x 15"W x 4"D
Inherited
Yes
Hi Marilyn,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
An antique Art Deco cast bronze banker's lamp
Style of IP Frink, circa 1920s-30s
The rectangular flaring box shade with relief-cast stylized foliate decoration and paneled sides, the base fitted with two inkwell reserves and a pen well. Presumed to be unmarked.
15 inches high, 15 inches wide, 4 inches deep
CONDITION: This lamp appears to be in very good condition; one ink well is a later replacement, the other is possibly original.
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$400-600*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
Hi Marilyn,
Thank you for the link.
Roweam is a retailer/dealer; 1stDibs is an online consortium of dealers, so the prices they are asking are all retail, which is significantly higher than the fair-market (auction) values Mearto uses in our appraisals. Looking at recent online and brick-and-mortar auctions confirmed my initial thought that the value on this was $400-600.
You didn't say if this was stamped so I've valued it as "in the style of" (essentially, "similar to") Frink lamps, which are worth just a bit more. If it's stamped, please add a photo to this appraisal and I'll change the value to $500-700.
Thanks very much for using Mearto and have a great day!
Delia
Here's one link I found: https://roweam.com/products/bronze-bankers-lamp. I've seen several in the past in the $4k+ range on 1stDibs but they have been sold and I'm not able to see the sold prices. It's been 3-4 years since I checked so it seems the market must be down for them.