L.280

A Belgian center-draft lamp made of ornamentally embossed sheet brass by Louis Sépulchre in Liège. Made probably around 1890-1900. Louis Sépulchre was an employee of the world-famous Belgian lamp manufacturer Lempereur & Bernard. He founded his own factory and started producing lamps from around 1880.

I only know of Sépulchre center-draft lamps made of sheet brass, with sparse ornamentation and functional design. The later products in particular are not exactly what makes the heart of a collector of elegant salon lamps beat faster. My two lamps (this lamp and L.360) make a certain exception with their ornamentally embossed brass vases.

I believe I once heard that the original Sépulchre glass chimneys differ from other typical 18-line Matador chimneys by their even further flattened bulge. Unfortunately I don't have an original chimney from this manufacturer.

The lamp L.280 came with a very peculiar-looking flame disc, which, on closer inspection, turned out to be a rather clumsy self-construction by some previous owner. A friend of mine turned a brass flame disc to the original dimensions (taken from L.360).

The ball shade I chose for this lamp came from Great Britain. I liked the rather sparse, but at least hand-cut ornamentation of the shade, because it harmonizes with the equally restrained pattern on the lamp vase.

Lamp Data

Added by me:
Flame disc (replica), glass chimney, ball shade, globe holder.

Cleaning and repairs:
The lamp came in a well-cleaned condition. I just polished it with polish paste.

Lamp body:
Base made of stepped brass sheet on 4 paw feet, Ø 184 mm. An iron weight under the base. Base, stem and vase cannot be taken apart.
Vase made of ornamentally embossed sheet brass, Ø 155 mm. The vase is also the font with an extra oil filler.

Burner:
18’’’ center-draft burner of Louis Sépulchre, Liège.
Wick knob marked: Sepulchre Belgique.
Flame disc as a slightly domed hat on pin (replica).
Round wick Ø 31 mm.

Glass chimney:
18’’’ Matador chimney with slim bulge. Height 266 mm, Ø fitter 63 mm.
Marked: S. Reich & Co. Made in Czechoslovakia 18’’’ + kerosene lamp. Marked on back: Cristal patent + garland.

Shade and shade holder:
British ball shade, colourless glass, frosted, cut transparent ornamentation.
Height 158 mm, Ø fitter 96 and bulge 179 mm.
95 mm globe holder for 20’’’ burners.

Lamp size:
Height up to collar 30.6 cm, total height with chimney 61.1 cm.
Total weight 2420 g.