An icon of the luxe side of midcentury design, the gilt sheaf of wheat is one of my favorite visual elements for home decor. There are plenty of examples out there, and you have to be careful to walk the line between gaudy and flimsy, which I think this particular example does nicely. The individual stalks of the sheaf of wheat are pleasingly wide, varied in size as to seem more realistic, and sweetly curled like a ribbon as they struggle under the burdensome weight of the heads of grain. There’s a lifelike tautness about the design, as if the lamp would fall apart if you untied the detailed, finely threaded string in the center. As a whole, this an expertly proportioned piece from the small, beaded base to the bulbous neck below the bulb. And half a century on in its life, there’s a spectacular burnished patina that provides visual depth and additional drama to the piece.
As symbols go, the sheaf of wheat has been around for centuries, but rose to prominence in furniture during the 1940s and 50s when Parisian fashion designers such as Coco Chanel and Yves Sant Laurent made it a staple in their own homes. Ever since, their popularity has grown, with high points in Italy during the 60s, and Hollywood during the 70s. You’ll often find sheaf of wheat pieces in the states made from metal, and with more of a dull color; the finest items are made from gilt wood and naturally tend to be earlier works.
Available at Glo in Miami, Florida.
