Handel / Hampshire

4,950

Posted on my web for your consideration is a really great HANDEL 18" poppy shade on the super rare 12" HAMPSHIRE POTTERY base. The properly signed HANDEL Arts and Crafts shade is in excellent original condition with wonderful colors and superb workmanship. The 18" Handel Poppy shade is full of fire with excellent workmanship and colors as on would expect of Handel. Has the interior " CATS PAW" heavy texture for lite refraction. Also the top glass is blown out of that special depth effect. This one has it all. The hardware is all Handel with acorn chain pull HUBBELL sockets and rewired for safety. The HANDEL LAMP CO. COMISSIONED the HAMPSHIRE POTTERY CO. to make lamp bases specifically for HANDEL SHADES. This is one of those which is early oil and converted to that new fanged stuff called " electricity ".

I have reduced from $5650 to $4950 to reflect the somewhat lousy national economy. A really sweet and important lamp.

Philip Handel joined in partnership with Adolph Eydam in 1885 to form the "Eydam and Handel Company" in Meriden, Connecticut. When this partnership dissolved in 1892, the remaining company was relocated to larger facilities and was thereafter known as "Philip J. Handel" and then as "Handel and Company". "The Handel Company" originally incorporated on June 11, 1903 with Philip J. Handel, Albert Parlow, and Antone Teich as the primary officers. Philip J. Handel married his second wife, Fannie Hirschfield Handel, in 1906, and she became company President upon Philip Handel's death in 1914. She would remarry (Fannie Handel Turner) in 1918 and managerial control of the company soon passed to William F. Handel, Philip's cousin. The immediate post World War I period was one of tremendous growth and profitability for The Handel Company. However, the economic slowdown of the late 1920's and resulting Great Depression had a devastating effect on company fortunes. By 1929, most production had ceased, and manufacturing ended all together in 1936. In Handel's hayday, they produced many types of high quality lamps which are in high demand.

Hampshire Pottery began production in 1871. The pottery was founded by James Taft. Hampshire Pottery first introduced the widely popular matte green glaze in 1883. In 1904 Cadmon Robertson joined Hampshire Pottery and was soon placed in charge of production. Robertson developed over 900 glazes while with Hampshire Pottery and was responsible for many of the forms.

Robertson passed away in 1914 which left Hampshire solely in the hands of Taft. Just after Robertson's death, Taft determined to cease production. In 1916 Taft sold Hampshire Pottery to George Morton who was previously with Grueby Pottery.

Hampshire pottery continued for only a year under Morton's direction and was closed in 1917. After the end of World War I, Morton reopened Hampshire Pottery with primary production being white china for hotels and restaurants. Hampshire Pottery closed permanently in 1923.