Dolphin Base Lamp c. 1938

Ray Price made this drawing of a Dolphin Base Lamp, but we don't know when or with what. The drawing is like an echo of an object, a sketch of something already made. The piece presents a lamp that is cast in a serene light. The colour palette is limited to white, gold, and soft brown tones, creating a gentle sense of harmony. The gold adds a touch of opulence. I am drawn to the swirls of the dolphin tails at the base and then echoed in the top portion of the lamp. There’s a sense of play in the gold flourishes; they remind me of Cy Twombly’s playful mark-making. The whole composition is really simple but also deeply charming. Ray Price's depiction of the lamp, like all art, transforms the ordinary into something magical.