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The Bouillotte lamp, with its adjustable metal shade and finely crafted bronze base, embodies the refinement of classic French decor. Originally created for card games, it has become an essential decorative piece in upscale interiors.
At Lumitop, we highlight the exceptional craftsmanship of Maison Lucien Gau, a prestigious Parisian house since 1860. Each lamp is handmade using traditional bronze casting and gilding techniques.
Invented in the 18th century to illuminate card tables, the Bouillotte lamp takes its name from the popular French game. Its adjustable shade was designed to adapt the lighting level to the candles underneath for a softly lit atmosphere.
Patinated bronze, painted tin, or sterling silver – each lamp is crafted with exquisite detail. It fits beautifully in offices, reading rooms, or refined living spaces.
Thanks to its low profile and close-set shade, the Bouillotte lamp offers intimate, subdued lighting – ideal for an elegant and warm ambiance.
Where does the Bouillotte lamp originate?
It was created in 18th-century France to light the popular Bouillotte card game played on marble-top tables.
What materials are used?
Traditionally made of patinated or gilded bronze, sometimes silver, with an adjustable painted metal shade.
Which interiors suit this lamp?
It pairs beautifully with Empire, Louis XVI, classical, or even eclectic contemporary styles.
How does the height adjustment work?
A screw mechanism allows the shade to be raised or lowered to control the light output.
Can it be used with LED bulbs?
Yes, it is compatible with E14 or E27 LED bulbs depending on the model.
Caricature of Napoleon I involving a bouillotte game (1815).
Bouillotte is a French card game that appeared in the 18th century and is based on brelan (a three-card poker-like game).
It was very popular during the French Revolution and enjoyed a resurgence for a few years starting in 1830.
At that time, it was also popular in the United States.
The lamp was typically placed in the center of a pedestal table with a marble top, designed for playing the bouillotte game.
With its bowl-shaped base featuring notches, players could place their tokens in it.
It was this combination of functionality and elegance that made it so successful.
It is composed of two or three candleholders, sometimes four, although that is much rarer.
To align the lampshade with the height of the candles, the bouillotte lamp features an adjustable mechanism using a screw system.
This type of lamp is considered “short”: its painted metal lampshade is positioned quite close to the base.
This design allows it to diffuse a very soft, subdued light.
The bouillotte lamp usually featured a bowl-shaped base designed to collect a small portion of the tokens after each round—these tokens were generally given to household staff at the end of the game.
Antique models were made of bronze or silver.
