Pair of Narwhal Tusk Lamps

An extremely rare pair of narwhal tusk lamps from the collection of the Queen's aunt Lady Elphinstone c1900. The narwhal Monodon monoceros is an artic whale with the strange characteristic of a single curly tusk growing from its skull. During the medieval period these tusks were thought to be from unicorns and were highly prized. An eighteenth century gentleman's study would not be complete without a narwhal tusk and Yves Saint Laurent had a pair which sold in the sale of his collection at Christies in Paris.

The tusks are mounted on ebonized plinths with silvered bronze lions paw feet and rams head light fittings.

Dimensions: bases measure 34 cm x 34.5 cm the total height is 1.94 cm and the width of the light bracket is 40 cm