June 2, 2003

A pair of Fortuny lamps

My friend Desiree asked me to set up a wishlist for the wedding. It's hard because Lin Kiat and I aren't planning to get our own place yet. I have a very long wishlist on Amazon.com (4 pages, last I checked!) but I'm not sure if books and CDs are what Desiree had in mind.

In any case, as and when I come up with something, I'll put it as an entry.

The first I've thought of is a pair of Fortuny lamps. The first time I heard of them was during a tour of Italy in the summer of 1998. A lady from Boston in our group said she would be hunting for them once we reached Venice, which is the city from which the lamp originates. She didn't purchase one in the end, though I never asked her why. Last year, my parents and I found a shop in Venice that sold the beautiful lamps (the same shop from which I bought a dark blue silk bag for my mother during my stay in Italy) and we were close to buying one, but didn't because we were backpacking and hopping on and off trains, which was not ideal for transporting a fragile Fortuny. Does anyone ever succeed in buying one from the Most Serene City?

Last week, I was at Indochine with a few friends (on a Thursday evening! On a weekday!), and directly opposite from our table, across the road, was a window lit with the glow from six Fortuny lamps hanging from a dark copper rod. I was delighted by the sight and ran over to gaze at the lamps. The shop is a new one - Vanilla Home - and I have no idea if their lamps are really from Venice or local reproductions. If anyone's keen to admire them, the address is 48 Club Street.

Posted by Monoceros at June 2, 2003 6:22 PM
Comments

hey so where is the wish list??? anything else that u want besides lamps??

Posted by: Desiree at June 3, 2003 11:37 PM

Well, I'm trying to think of other things. Sorry I'm taking a while! Don't have ideas yet. I can't suggest household things because I'm not setting up house yet so not sure what else!

Posted by: Van Heng at June 4, 2003 11:20 PM

Hey hey! Too busy to blog lately? :-) Let me know if you need any help with the photoblog et al... I'd be glad to help.

And now, to write that speech ... *rubs hands together with glee*

Posted by: Van Tan at June 10, 2003 12:54 AM

Van Tan,

Thanks for the photolog. I think it'd be an awesome idea for all our friends and relatives to look at and for Vanny to look at while she's in MI in a couple of month's time.

Posted by: LK at June 10, 2003 11:18 PM

The original Fortuny lamps are produced by Venetia Studium srl located at S.Marco 2425 Venice Italy

Ph.+39.041.5236953
Fax +39.041.5227353

Posted by: Matteo Lando at July 26, 2003 12:18 AM

HELLO,

I am wondering how much the fortuny lamps go for in Venice. I work for an airline in Canada and am wondering if it is cheaper to go to Venice and purchase one or to buy one in Vancouver. The price in Vancouver is about $2200.00 24inch. Do you remember how much the lights were in Venice approximately. Would appreciate any info you might have.

Thank-you for your help,

Cindy

Posted by: CINDY MAST at September 8, 2003 3:52 AM

Original Fortuny Lamps can be purchased in the US here.

Posted by: Ann sofie at December 26, 2003 1:11 PM

Our shop sells Fortuny Lamps and we ship worldwide.

Tel 323.655.9511
Fax 323.655.9577
www.upstairsatdiamond.com

Posted by: Jeffrey at January 15, 2004 12:56 PM

I just found out about Fortuny lamps yesterday. I am really enchanted by their beauty, so I started searching for them on the web today. I have found quite a few retailers (I believe all of these Fortuny lamps are from the same manufacturer in Venice): upstairsatdiamond.com (this is the first site that I found), www.distantorigin.com (located in NY), www.bernstein-gold.com (located in Vancouver, BC), www.punctilio.com (I forgot where these folks are), and www.bellissimo.com (which seemed to be the cheapest and are located in Sun Valley, Idaho). Hope this helps anyone that is looking for them.

Have a great day. -Ve

Posted by: Veronika at January 15, 2004 4:37 PM

Cindy,
I bought my Fortuny Cesendello a Stello (floor lamp) in Venice for about 1000 euros (about $1,600Cdn/$1,250 USD)in 2001 at Venetia Studium. That included shipping to Toronto. You wouldn't want to lug it around with you as it is too bulky.

As my decor style has changed I will probably part with mine on ebay.

Posted by: Arlene at January 20, 2004 11:07 AM