L.310

A very striking, extremely rare, small lamp that I found on eBay UK and also bravely bid for. It is probably a product of the last third of the 19th century, when lamps were still elaborately handmade.

A rectangular ceramic vase sits in a metal frame that was probably made especially for this vase. The metal frame is very elaborately designed: 4 long, narrow columns are mounted on a 4-legged pedestal. These 4 colums hold a final baldachin frame at the top. The columns and their upper ends are screwed together. The frame is made of cast brass or bronze and originally gilded. However, the gilding is already worn away in the raised areas. The whole ornamentation reminds me of French products of the 2nd Empire (around 1850-1870): splendid decorations with lion heads, rocailles, curved feet, etc.

The rectangular vase is painted differently on all 4 sides with blackberries and flowers. The painting and the golden lines are excellently preserved. Unfortunately the blind stamp on the lower side is indecipherable. The English seller (an antique dealer) had guessed Sarreguemines in France.

The font collar was completed with another, narrower, silver-plated metal part that had been inserted into the collar and glued to it. I was able to remove this part again. The thread of the actual collar had come off, but was still in the collar. Amazingly enough, the collar was not cemented in place; the neck area of the vase was completely clean! I soldered the thread back onto the collar and cemented it properly to the vase.

One conjecture about the lamp, however, was that the ceramic vase was drilled at the bottom. The lamp must have been electrified in the past. This would also explain the additional metal part, which probably served to fix the lamp socket. I closed the hole with an aluminium plate and Stabilit glue.

Complemented with a good 10’’’ Kosmos burner and a probably also quite old tulip shade with cut ornamentation, the lamp exudes dignified elegance. It is one of the exceptional lamps in my collection.

Lamp Data

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

Cleaning and repairs:
Two feet at the bottom are filed down quite a bit to ensure that the lamp evenly spaced on 4 feet. The hole at the bottom was sealed with an aluminium plate and Stabilit. Vase collar repaired and cemented in place.

Lamp body:
Base and frame of cast brass or bronze, Empire style, formerly gilded (quite worn), rectangular on 4 curved feet, 14 x 11.5 cm.
Polychrome painted ceramic vase, rectangular, 8.2 x 6.0 cm. Gold decoration in very good condition. Handwritten markings at the bottom; blind stamp illegible.
Vase is at the same time the font.

Burner:
10’’’ Reform Kosmos burner of Hugo Schneider, Leipzig.
Wick knob marked: Kosmos Brenner.
Wick tube marked: M.
Flat wick 50 mm.

Glass chimney:
10’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 226 mm, Ø fitter 40 mm.
Marked: Logo of Wensel.

Shade and shade holder:
Tulip shade, colourless glass, frosted, cut ornamentation, angular cut upper rim.
Height 103 mm, Ø fitter 66 and top rim 128 mm.
70 mm shade globe holder for 10’’’ burners.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 19.0 cm, total height with chimney 45.2 cm.
Total weight 1390 g.