Pair Art Deco Skyscraper Glass Wall Appliqué Sconces in the Manner Of Marius-Ernest Sabino

Pair of French Art Deco Moulded & Frosted “Skyscraper” Glass Wall Appliqué Sconces
In the manner of Marius-Ernest Sabino, c.1930 ✨

Description
A striking matched pair of French Art Deco moulded and frosted glass wall appliqué light shades, circa 1930. Each shade is conceived as a miniature architectural façade: a tall central panel flanked by stepped, tiered “wings”, forming a bold, three-dimensional skyscraper profile 🏙️.

They are made from heavy, press-moulded glass, giving real substance and crisp definition to the relief. The glass has a frosted, satin-like surface – likely achieved by acid-etching or sandblasting – which softens the planes of the design and diffuses the light into a smooth, even glow. The raised motifs remain slightly clearer, so when lit they catch and refract the light like small facets, emphasising the sculptural modelling of the glass 💡.

From the front, the design reads as overlapping rectilinear blocks rising and falling in shallow terraces, almost like a ziggurat. In profile, the staggered steps and cantilevered upper section give a clean, layered silhouette that projects elegantly from the wall. Across this structure run bold radiating sunburst rays, intersected by zig-zag and fan motifs in high relief – classic high-Deco geometry.

Each shade retains its four original brass support fixings – simple bent brass wall brackets – which hold the glass slightly off the wall so that it reads more as an illuminated architectural panel than a conventional sconce. The powerful geometry, stepped skyscraper outline and dynamic rays are very much in the manner of Marius-Ernest Sabino’s moulded-glass lighting, and closely related to designs produced by Établissements Jean Gauthier (EJG / Ezan) and Verreries des Hanots. Although unsigned and not attributable to a specific workshop, the quality, weight and design vocabulary are entirely consistent with French Art Deco glass of the interwar period ⭐.

About Sabino 🔍
Marius-Ernest Sabino (1878–1961) was one of the leading figures of French Art Deco glass. Sicilian-born and Paris-trained, he studied at the École des Arts Décoratifs and the École des Beaux-Arts before founding his own glassworks in Paris, specialising in thick press-moulded and often opalescent glass for lighting, vases and figural pieces.

His work is renowned for rich relief modelling, strong geometric silhouettes and dramatic radiating motifs, particularly in wall lights, plafonniers and chandeliers. Heavy moulded glass with satin or opalescent finishes that come alive when lit is a hallmark of his production and a key reason his pieces are so sought after by collectors today.

This pair is unsigned and cannot be attributed to his workshop, but the skyscraper form, radiating sunbursts and use of heavy moulded glass with a satin finish clearly place them in the same design language – hence “in the manner of Sabino”.

Provenance 📚
From the collection of the late Philip Clarkson (1949–2025) – graphic designer, photographer and noted collector of 20th-century design and popular culture – sold via a notable auction house near Chester and curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Historical context 🕰️
By the late 1920s and early 1930s, Art Deco had become the dominant modern style in architecture, interiors and the decorative arts, with Paris as a key centre. The 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris helped to launch the new look internationally: streamlined forms, bold geometry, stylised rays and zig-zags, often combined with luxurious materials and dramatic lighting.

Advances in pressed- and moulded-glass technology during the interwar years allowed French factories to produce thick, sculptural shades on a larger scale. This perfectly suited the “machine-age” aesthetic of Deco and made high-impact glass lighting more affordable, so designs like these appeared in cinemas, department stores, shopfronts and modern apartments across Europe.

Wall lights such as this pair, with their radiating sunbursts and stepped skyscraper outlines, echoed the profiles of contemporary high-rise buildings and cinema façades. They were conceived not just as light sources but as architectural features in their own right – casting a soft, diffused glow while their raised, clearer details sparkle and catch the eye. Today, authentic interwar moulded-glass shades of this quality are increasingly prized as surviving fragments of that glamorous early-electric age.

Why you’ll love them 💕

✅ Serious Deco impact – Strong skyscraper silhouette and bold sunburst relief instantly evoke 1930s cinema-lobby glamour.
✅ Beautiful light – Satin-frosted glass throws a soft, flattering glow; the clearer raised motifs sparkle subtly when illuminated.
✅ Architectural presence – They read as illuminated glass panels or small façades, sculptural and impressive even when unlit.
✅ True interwar quality – Heavy moulded glass and original brass brackets give a depth, weight and character that modern repros can’t match.
✅ Versatile placement – Perfect flanking a mirror, doorway or fireplace, or as statement lighting in a hallway, stairwell or home cinema room.

Details

• Date: c.1930 📆

• Origin: France, Continental Europe 🇫🇷

• Materials: Heavy moulded / pressed clear glass with frosted “satin” finish; original brass support brackets

Dimensions (each):

• Height: approx. 26 cm (c. 10¼ in)

• Width: approx. 26.3 cm (c. 10⅜ in)

• Depth: just under 10 cm (c. 4 in)

• Weight: approx. 2.2 kg ⚖️

Condition ✅

A well-matched pair in good, presentable vintage condition for period pressed glass:

• Both shades are structurally sound with crisp Art Deco moulded detail.

• Scattered small flea-bites and light nibbling to the stepped edges and rims, commensurate with age and use, plus a few small chip losses.

• Surface scuffing and a little interior haze / mineral staining in places, especially in corners and recessed areas; not distracting when displayed or lit.

• Manufacturing seams and minor moulding irregularities are original to production and typical of interwar pressed glass.

• Original brass support brackets show age-related tarnish, surface marks and traces of old solder, with a mellow, unpolished patina.

• Sold as found with original brass wall-mount brackets and later-added screws (one screw missing).

• No wiring and no bulbs included. As with all vintage lighting, any wiring and installation should be carried out by a qualified electrician to meet current safety standards ⚡👨🔧.