French national library is putting lamps, desks and columns up for ADOPTION in drive to raise funds for dramatic renovation

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Adopting a kitten or a stray dog is all very well, but what about a lamp?

And not just any lamp, a beautiful bronze lamp with coloured glass from a turn of the century French library.

The Richelieu Library in Paris is undergoing a dramatic renovation and is trying to raise funds by asking for donations, as well as the more unique approach of putting up various objects in its stunning Oval Reading Room for adoption.

The Richelieu Library in Paris is undergoing a dramatic renovation and is trying to raise funds by asking for donations, as well as the more unique approach of putting up various objects in its stunning Oval Reading Room for adoption

There are 42 lamps from the reading tables and desks available for €1,000 (£890). The bronze lights are made of opaline globes and lampshades with a steel sheet, painted and covered with copper

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (French National Library) hope to raise €500, 000 (£445,000) before December 31 to fund restoration of the breathtaking room.

Laurence Engel, president of the BnF told MailOnline Travel: 'Anyone entering the Oval reading room, struck by its beauty, enters at the same time the library's universe. 

'It is the whole literary and intellectual history that comes to life. Adopting a lamp, a table, a column is an opportunity to be part of this history and forge personal and emotional connections with our institution. I sincerely hope that our users will be touched by this perspective. '

There are 42 lamps from the reading tables and desks available for €1,000 (£890). The bronze lights are made of opaline globes and lampshades with a steel sheet, painted and covered with copper.

The waxed oak reading tables too are available for adoption. These tables, of differing lengths have a black linoleum desk blotter protected with hessian. 

There are a 100 of these impressive desks available, up for €2,000 (£1,779) each, and a seat number can also be chosen.

They hope to raise €500, 000 (£445,000) before December 31 to fund restoration of the breathtaking room. Renovation of the room will is set to cost €3.8m (£3.4m) and will last for four years

There are 42 lamps from the reading tables and desks available for €1,000 (£890). The bronze lights are made of opaline globes and lampshades with a steel sheet, painted and covered with copper

The third - and most unusual item to adopt - is one of the 32 cast-iron twin columns; yours for €6,000 (£5,338). These columns bear the 12 arches of the ring-shaped half-vault.

Unsurprisingly given the price of the furniture there are many honours that come with the adoption process - not that adopters actually get to keep the items.

However their names will eternally be associated with the adopted item and, if owners wish, they can be mentioned on the BnF website and on the gates of the Richelieu Library. 

The waxed oak reading tables too are available for adoption. These tables, of differing lengths have a black linoleum desk blotter protected with hessian

The huge oval glass roof is surrounded by gilded acanthus leaves and a set of 16 glass bull's eyes windows used for ventilation

 Its nickname 'Oval Paradise' is apt given its sheer size (It's 143ft long, 108ft wide and 50ft high) and the wealth of mosaic, gold decorations, decorative paintings and unique furniture

Donors will also be invited to a VIP evening at the Richelieu Library and the opening of the BnF exhibitions for a one-year period and receive a subscription to Chroniques, the magazine published by the BnF and to the newsletter of the library. 

Construction for the Oval Room - designed by the French architect Jean-Louis Pascal - began in 1897 and it was inaugurated in 1936.

Its nickname 'Oval Paradise' is apt given its sheer size (It's 143ft long, 108ft wide and 50ft high) and the wealth of mosaic, gold decorations, decorative paintings and unique furniture.

The huge oval glass roof is surrounded by gilded acanthus leaves and a set of 16 glass bull's eyes windows used for ventilation.

Each bears the name of a city symbolically famous in the history of civilizations and libraries: Paris, Byzantium, Washington, Florence, Athens, Ninive, Berlin, Alexandria, London, Babylon, Vienna, Thebes, Rome, Carthage, Beijing, Jerusalem.

Renovation of the room is set to cost €3.8million (£3.4million) and will last for four years.  

The following pieces will be cleaned and restored: the glass-roof, stencil friezes, some paintings and decorative elements of the half-vault, some paintings on the woodworks, some paintings of the metal elements including the columns as well as items of aforementioned furniture.