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Narthex shines spotlight on artistic light fixture

Punched brass lamp.

The narthex of the Mary of the Angels Chapel is a gallery to several artistic treasures owned by the FSPA. While the community's harp, known as Clara, is often the centerpiece of attention, a much lower-profile ornamental piece deserves closer examination. In the same corner as the harp sits a hand-punched brass lamp with a Middle Eastern design. Though it was not designed or crafted by the sisters, it is one of many artistic treasures which adorn the halls of St. Rose Convent.

While details about the history of the lamp are sketchy, we do know this: a number of years ago, an unknown gentleman from Chicago donated the lamp to the community. Careful to preserve the integrity of the lamp, sisters relined the inside of the lampshade and repaired its beaded skirt. They also took care to install low intensity bulbs to save wear on the lining.

Photo shows detail on the lampshade.

The lamp is decorated with finely-detailed punch work. The design on the stem of the lamp consists of Arabic-style characters of undetermined meaning. The lampshade is covered with several pictographs of animals and plants. It could be said that the light of the lamp is a symbol of FSPA hope for peace in the Middle East. Online research of punched brass lamps revealed little about the history of this piece, and a recent appraisal by a La Crosse-area antiques appraiser offered limited information

on the lamp's worth, though the dealer noted that he believed the lamp was built in the 1930s. But regardless of the history of the lamp and the secrets she holds, the beauty of the gift is undeniable as it continues to light the way for harp music to play center stage.

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