Accolay Pottery (attributed), “Woman with skirt” lantern, circa 1950, speckled ceramic, Yonne department, France

This lamp, shaped like a hot-air balloon and topped with a woman’s head, is attributed to the Accolay ceramics. The originality of this piece, the color gradient, and the speckled effect are all characteristic of Accolay pottery. This light fixture is a true trompe-l’œil curiosity. When lit and suspended from the ceiling, the lamp gives the impression of a hot-air balloon in flight.

All the elements are present: the balloon, the basket ; both connected by metal wires ; and the lamp’s light, replacing the heated air that allows the balloon to rise. The fixture is topped with a woman’s head. The story of the Accolay potters began during the Second World War. The pottery community settled in a former bourgeois house in Accolay and initially produced buttons for major Parisian fashion designers such as Christian Dior.