L.272

When I saw this lamp on eBay, it was a complete ruin! It was so disfigured by dirt and oxidation that one could only guess at the original magnificent shape of the lamp. On top of that, the shade holder was completely broken, with broken arms and a detached hoop! Unbelievable! But it was exactly this condition, coupled with the charming shape of the lamp, that tempted me to buy this lamp in order to later make a beautiful looking lamp out of it in its former glory. Later I even congratulated myself for this courageous decision, because the lamp exceeded my expectations...

When I received the lamp, I noticed that two German emperors were depicted on it: Wilhelm I and his son Friedrich III. (both died in 1888; the son, the "99 days Emperor", of throat cancer). Therefore, it can be assumed that this lamp must have been created in 1888 to accession of Friedrich III before his death.

I removed old paint from the zinc castings in caustic soda bath, sanded and polished them cleanly, primed them with shoe polish and bronzed them very carefully with brass wax. I made the background of the Kaiser medallions darker. The lamp is hardly recognisable; it shines magnificently!

The burner and shade holder had to be cleaned in an acid bath and by sanding. I repaired the broken arm of the shade holder with a soldered piece of brass tube. On the burner, the wick knob could not be deciphered without cleaning; it was the Kosmos Normal burner by Wild & Wessel. In fact, I suspect that the entire lamp was made by Wild & Wessel, as it was quite ostentatiously and elaborately made. However, it lacks the typical W&W number under the base. A marked chimney and an old Vesta shade completed the lamp.

This lamp has risen like a phoenix from the ashes! The cast zinc ornamentation is exceptionally fine and very detailed. It was certainly a valuable lamp for upscale households.

Lamp Data

Added by me:
Glass chimney and Vesta shade.

Cleaning and repairs:
Zinc cast parts cleaned in sodium hydroxide solution, primed with shoe polish and bronzed with brass wax (Laiton). The shade holder repaired and re-soldered.

Lamp body:
Base and vase of very detailed, ornamental zinc casting. Base on 4 feet, Ø 167 mm.
Vase with two medallions with the portraits of Wilhelm I and Friedrich III. On the sides two fully plastic faces (Teutons?). Vase Ø 160 mm.
Drop-in font of clear glass, cemented under the font lid, inserted in the vase. Font lid of ornamental zinc casting, Ø 121 mm.

Burner:
14’’’ Kosmos-Normal burner of Wild & Wessel, Berlin, soldered to the shade holder.
Wick knob marked: W&W Kosmos Normal. Wick knob back with W&W ornamental cord.
Flat wick 86 mm.

Glass chimney:
14’’' Kosmos chimney. Height 261 mm, Ø fitter 53 mm.
Marked: Frauenlob - Eingetragene Schutzmarke 14''' + two people with chimney.

Shade and shade holder:
Vesta shade, white milk glass (very slightly greenish), flat rolled top rim.
Height 180 mm, Ø fitter 234 and bulge 264 mm.
235 mm shade holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners, soldered to the burner.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 24.4 cm, total height with chimney 54.5 cm.
Total weight 3040 g.