L.012

An extraordinary lamp with a clear Art Nouveau design by Ditmar-Brünner AG. The lamp is already shown in the first catalogue of this company, which was created by the merger of the two Viennese lamp manufacturers R. Ditmar and Gebr. Brünner, as lamp no. 4863. It was probably made around 1907.

The lamp is an independent Art Nouveau creation with an enchanting design that deviates from the ordinary. The base adopts the classic tripod construction of French lamps, but here in an outstanding Art Nouveau design, to support an almost spherical, unadorned polished copper body as a vase. At the same time, the play of colours copper/brass is quite charming.

The Sonnenbrenner of the lamp is suitably partially copper-plated. This burner only had the transport wick, and moreover, the wick drive was not intact. Ara put the complicated mechanism back in order and installed a round wick. I bought the special shoulder chimney much later from Miles Stair in the USA, which he had newly produced exactly for 15’’’ Sonnenbrenner. So this lamp shares the fate of my three other Ditmar lamps with 15’’’ Sonnenbrenner; unfortunately I cannot find any original 15 line Sonnenbrenner chimney; so I have resort to new production from the USA.

A ball shade would fit this lamp with its spherical vase better than any other shade (as also shown in the catalogue). At some point, however, I discovered a tulip shade on eBay USA that perfectly mimics the bicolour colouring of the lamp. Since then, this beautiful Austrian lamp has been wearing a tulip shade and a chimney from the USA.

Lamp Data

Added by me:
Glass chimney, tulip shade and globe holder.

Cleaning and repairs:
Ara repaired the wick drive of the burner.

Lamp body:
Triangular base composed of 5 parts, tarnish-protected clear lacquered cast brass. Side length at the bottom 15.5 cm.
Vase of smooth copper without ornamentation, round, polished (anti-tarnish removed), Ø 150 mm.
Drop-in font of clear glass, with lid of smooth copper matching the vase. Font lid Ø 140 mm.

Burner:
15’’’ Sonnenbrenner of R. Ditmar, Vienna, partly copper-plated.
Wick knob marked: Sonnenbrenner R. Ditmar Wien. Black glass inlay.
Original flame disc for Sonnenbrenner.
Round wick Ø 24 mm; original transport wick.

Glass chimney:
15’’’ shoulder chimney for Sonnenbrenner. Height 285 mm, Ø fitter 53 mm. Without brand.
New production made of borosilicate glass (purchased from Miles Stair, USA).

Shade and shade holder:
Tulip shade, pink glass with horizontal stripes in dark pink, yellow on top, upper rim fluted and frilled.
Height 133 mm, Ø fitter 67 and top rim 182 mm.
70 mm globe holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 21.5 cm, total height with chimney 54.1 cm.
Total weight 2160 g.