123 - WILLY DARO (Belgium, active from the 1950s to the 1990s).

WILLY DARO (Belgium, active from the 1950s to the 1990s). Table lamp. Belgium, ca. 1970. Gold- and silver-plated metal with natural agates. Recently made linen shade. The structure is in very good overall condition, with some rust spots, wear, and superficial loss of finish on the front of the base. New shade. Measurements: 58 cm total height × 40 cm shade diameter. Table lamp designed as a botanical composition, with curved stems and textured leaves supporting three sections of natural agate arranged like flowers. The bands and translucent areas of the stones are hallmarks of the gold and silver finishes of the metal, set on a rectangular base with simple lines. The combination of organic and mineral motifs reflects Willy Daro’s decorative language and lends the piece a sculptural presence, even when unlit. Willy Daro was a Belgian furniture and lighting designer based in Brussels, best known for his sculptural lamps from the 1970s. As head of Les Nouveaux Ateliers Willy Daro, he created pieces that combined brass and chrome-plated metal with agate, crystal, coral, and shells. Nature is at the heart of his work: leaves, flowers, and stems are transformed into metal structures that incorporate minerals as decorative elements. His most distinctive contribution was bringing lighting closer to sculpture by drawing on the shapes, textures, and transparencies of natural materials.