L.191

An older Wild & Wessel lamp (W&W no. 1208) of the Historism period, to be dated ca. 1875-1880. When I discovered the lamp on eBay, it was so dirty and unsightly that I did not intend to buy it at first. However, the amphora shape of the lamp with handles and two different depictions of birds were quite attractive in the end, so I acquired it.

When I tried to clean it, I noticed that the lamp also had two colours underneath the unspeakable layer of dirt: black and on top of that again a kind of patina green. The lamp was originally painted black and patinated green (as an imitation of bronze patina). Since sanding did almost nothing, I had to remove the layers of paint in sodium hydroxide solution. Then came the surprise: Under the base (hidden under black paint) one could now read the number 1208 with a dot. The lamp was from Wild & Wessel! Date of origin according to the number: 1875-1880.

After cleaning, I painted the relief parts, the handles and the base in gold, and the rest of the lamp in black (Revell Matt 8), which I also polished with felt disc afterwards.

The supplied burner was not from Wild & Wessel, plus it was completely messed up with 3 huge holes for the arms of a shade holder. I replaced it with a W&W Kosmos burner.

A beautiful yellow coloured tulip shade from the USA proved to be exceptionally suitable for lamp in terms of colour and also size.
 
After many hours of work, a very beautiful Wild & Wessel lamp has emerged "from the ruins", which I am really proud of.

Lamp Data

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

Cleaning and repairs:
All zinc castings decoloured in caustic soda and then cleaned with steel wool. Painted certain parts with a liquid brass paint, painted the rest with Revell Black Matt 8 paint and polished with felt discs. The parts painted with brass paint were then carefully patinated with shoe polish.

Lamp body:
Lamp body made of ornamental, elaborate zinc casting in historicism. No bronzing visible, but painted black and green on top. Base with 4 baroque-shaped feet, side length ca. 13 cm. One foot has a crack. Marked under the base: 1208.
Vase with two different bird and flower arrangements and two massive handles. Vase Ø 139 mm, with handles 183 mm.
Drop-in font of clear transparent glass, with a crack at the top. Font lid of cast zinc, matching the lamp, Ø 124 mm.

Burner:
14’’’ Kosmos burner of Wild & Wessel, Berlin.
Wick knob marked: W&W Kosmos. Wick knob back: Ornamental W&W cord.
Wick tube marked: 14 Kosmos.
Flat wick 67 mm.

Glass chimney:
14’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 264 mm, Ø fitter 52 mm.
Marked: Frauenlob - Eingetragene Schutzmarke 14''' – picture of two people with chimney.

Shade and shade holder:
Tulip shade, frosted glass, yellow at the top, lighter at the bottom, slightly raised, transparent motifs, upper rim fluted and ruffled. Brass ring at the bottom, without slip fitter. Glowing red under UV light.
Height 160 mm, Ø bottom opening 70, top rim 145 and bulge 131 mm.
85 mm globe holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners, original of Wild & Wessel.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 30.3 cm, total height with chimney 60.7 cm.
Total weight 3260 g.