
Three Neoclassical Style Lamps
Late 19th/Early 20th Century
Comprising:
A marble example carved as a Classical column, later converted
An alabaster example carved as a Classical urn
A silvered and gilt-metal column, converted from an oil lamp
Height overall 38 1/4 inches, the largest example.
From the Collection of Nelson R. DeMille
This lot is located in Philadelphia.
Size
Height overall 38 1/4 inches, the largest example.
Condition
Each in good overall condition, presents well, ready to place. Please note we do not guarantee the condition of shades. Further enumeration below:The marble example carved as a Classical column: Likely converted from a Grand Tour marble figure of a column; drilled for a lamp and reattached with the capital at the base; some scattered minor abrasions and chips, most notably to the edges of the base; not tested for working order. Height overall 28 1/2 inches; height excluding the fitments 18 inches.The alabaster example modeled as a Classical urn: Possibly later converted to a lamp; the surface with some scattered minor chips and abrasions, most notably to the base; not tested for working order. Height overall 21 inches; height excluding the fitments 11 inches.The silvered and gilt-metal column, converted from an oil lamp: The gilt-metal areas with some rubbing, oxidation and pitting in areas; the glass oil well with some minor use wear including staining and mold-lines from the making; not tested for working order. Height overall 38 1/4 inches; height excluding the fitments 25 1/2 inches.
Provenance
Freeman’s is honored to present the private collection of the celebrated novelist Nelson R. DeMille. A proud Long Island resident and U.S. Army veteran, DeMille’s first major novel, By the Rivers of Babylon, was published in 1978 and over the following decades, he authored more than thirty novels and short stories. His celebrated John Corey series, launched with Plum Island in 1997, became a mainstay of modern thriller fiction, while The General’s Daughter achieved additional acclaim through its major film adaptation starring John Travolta.Warm, incisive, and unfailingly generous with his time, DeMille was an active and beloved presence within the Authors Guild community for more than forty years and served as president of the Mystery Writers of America. An advocate to all, his passing marked the loss of not only a master storyteller, but a tireless mentor and champion of writers’ and their rights.The collection presented here reflects the discernment, curiosity, and richly lived life of a man whose stories defined a genre. We are pleased to offer collectors this unique opportunity to acquire works from the personal world of Nelson R. DeMille—objects that accompanied one of America’s great literary voices throughout a remarkable career.We invite you to explore these pieces—not merely as objects of provenance, but as elements of a distinctive story: the life and legacy of Nelson R. DeMille.
































