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Vintage pair of Cristal d’Abret cut crystal lamps. In very good condition with no chips or cracks. Each of these lamps weighs in at 13.5 lbs, so they are not light weights at all. The original French company that made these lamps is no longer in business. I will include a history of the company at the end of the description. These lamps have their original wiring and the sockets are the push tab type. So, you could change out the sockets for a three-way bulb if you wanted. Felt bottoms that could be replaced. There is a bit of corrosion at bottom under the glass of one of the lamps, but the brass can be polished if you wish to remove the aging patina. I have taken a couple of pictures with shades to give an idea of what some shades could look like on these lamps. These are a no return item. They will be packed very well and insured. Pair of Lamps Cut Crystal Fait Main Cristal D\'Albret Table Lamps Brass Bases. Condition is \"Used\". Shipped with USPS Priority Mail.
Cristal d’Albret
Cristal d’Albret is the name Cristalleries et Verreries de Vianne used for it’s lighting fixtures and paperweights for a couple of decades since 1968.
Cristalleries et Verreries de Vianne was founded by a Mr. Roger Witkind. In which year the company was founded is unclear. The glass-works was reorganised and re-established at the end of World War I in 1918. The glass factory was the first industrial employer in the region.
In 1967 Cristalleries et Verreries de Vianne was approached by Paul Jokelson with the idea of producing paperweights with sulphides. Cristal d’Albret was born.
The company has been in trouble several times. It already filed for bankruptcy in 1984 before being taken over by it’s CEO, Richard Parent, and his family. In 1991, a new turnaround would lead to the continuation of the activity accompanied by the elimination of 80 jobs. 293 people kept their jobs.
In September 1996 the company filed for bankruptcy. It was saved but in December 2005 the end was there and the Cristalleries et Verreries de Vianne was declared bankrupt in 2006. Production of crystal glass was much cheaper in other countries and the costs were too high. Verrerie de Vianne was the last French company of this size in this niche.
Several attempts were made to restart the company. Also Italians (Vitrerie) were involved at some point. Eventually, the two Italian partners withdrew from the sale.
What remains of the heritage of the glass factory, the 3000 moulds that were used to manufacture luminaries of world renown, was about to be sold in 2013 for 35.000 Euro by the city of Vianne.