This lamp base has been modelled as a rather randomly stacked pile of natural stones. It is made of plaster but the designer has put in a lot of effort to give the appearance of real stones. Some of the stones have crude decorations carved on them that harken back to ancient times. The decorations could also refer to foreign cultures as it shares some similarities with Aztec or Mayan designs.
It was probably made in the 1960s, possibly in Cornwall. It is somewhat similar in style to producers like Carn, Tremaen or Troika, the latter also famously used Aztec symbols in their art.
What I particularly like about this item is that it is unpretentious. Like all good brutalist art it is not trying to be anything fancy. Instead, the aesthetics are largely derived from the exploration of the material and the novelty of the design, something highly valued in 1960s and 1970s Britain.
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