L.265

A richly decorated, opulent lamp with a majolica vase by Keller & Guérin from Lunéville in Lorraine. The ornamental metal parts are not made of cast brass, as is usual with French lamps, but of bronzed cast zinc.

The lamp seems to me rather to be a "mariage" lamp assembled from parts of other lamps. This assumption is based on the fact that the base with 4 feet and the ornamental vase ring have perfectly preserved gold bronzing that still shines very well, while the rest of the zinc castings were in a completely different condition. The majolica vase is held in place at the top and bottom with two simple profiled zinc cast rings that were completely bare, without any bronzing. The lid of the font was bronzed, but the bronze layer was quite rubbed off. I had to repaint or bronze these latter three parts to ensure a uniform appearance. At least the composition was technically well done.

The spherical vase from Lunéville is undoubtedly the most attractive part of the lamp, as it is painted with beautiful blue flowers on a light beige background. It could have been intended for the spherical lamps to be used at French hanging lamps. The polychrome painting and the golden decorative lines are excellently preserved. There are three slightly different flower arrangements painted, the blue flowers are slightly raised in relief.

I used a 15’’’ Saturn burner from R. Ditmar in this richly decorated lamp. An extremely finely and accurately etched ball shade for gas lamps suited the spherical shape of the lamp very well. To be able to use this shade with 109 mm bottom opening, I had to combine a rare 115 mm globe holder (lucky find in eBay UK) with a conventional 85 mm globe holder for 15’’’ burners.

Lamp Data

Added by me:
Burner, glass chimney, ball shade and two globe holders.

Cleaning and repairs:
Profiled rings of zinc lacquered with bronze colour. Font lid additionally bronzed (Or classique).

Lamp body:
Base of ornamental zinc casting, shiny bronzed, on 4 feet, 13.5 x 13.5 cm, Ø 185 mm.
Majolica vase by Keller & Guérin with painted flowers, Ø 179 mm. Vase ring made of cast zinc, gold bronzed, Ø 169 mm. Between base, vase and vase ring two profiled zinc rings.
Drop-in font of brass-plated sheet zinc, inserted in the vase. Font lid of cast zinc, bronzed with gold wax, Ø 142 mm.

Burner:
15’’’ Saturn burner of R. Ditmar, Vienna. Wick drive detachable.
Wick knob marked: R. Ditmar Wien.
Original flame disc, marked: 15''' Saturn-Brenner.
Flat wick 77 mm.

Glass chimney:
15’’’ Matador chimney. Height 264 mm, Ø fitter 53 mm.
Marked: Schutz-Marke - Logo E&G - 15''' Wunder - 16''' Salvator - Prima Boheems Glas.

Shade and shade holder:
British ball shade for gas lamps, semi-open form, colourless glass, frosted, cameo-etched ornamentation. Without slip fitter.
Height 156 mm, Ø bottom opening 109 and bulge 178 mm.
Two globe holders combined together: a large 115 mm globe holder and a 85 mm globe holder for 15’’’ burners.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 27.0 cm, total height with chimney 57.4 cm.
Total weight 3410 g.