I often mention the design, style, and proportions of vintage fixtures, properties most contemporary fixtures seem to have a lack of. Whether it is from lack of classical design study or just the blinders-on rush for the dollar (or yuan), most of today's lighting fixtures wither and pale in comparison to pre 1940 vintage fixtures.
Take the above image for example. How many classic design elements do you see? The knight, coat of arms, dragons, fleur de lis, ivy, lance and flag, and the bent cross or fleur de lis finial. But what is it about this fixture that grabs your eyes and keeps them moving about the fixture, savoring its sinuous curves the way a jawbreaker rolls around your mouth? Strict adherence to classical design elementation. In the image on the right, note how each line intersects the tips of key elements 4 to 7 times. This is VERY deliberate. Each curve, each leaf, each element is placed in such a way your eye just rolls around the fixture, seemingly at random. Similar to the way your eyes move around when looking at nature. There is a comfort in such a fixture because its design elements mimic the design elements in nature. Unseen yet felt.
Listen to Your Eyes. PB
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