L.295

A Wild & Wessel lamp (W&W no. 1260) from the Historicism period, dated ca. 1875-1880. Lamp body made of ornamental zinc casting and zinc sheet, base and upper vase part originally greenish patinated (as imitation of green bronze patina on antique objects).

As the original colours were almost completely worn and rubbed, I had to repaint all the cast zinc parts accordingly. For this I used the anthracite-black patina paint (Patine - Fonte du Faubourg) from Paris, which gives a beautiful, metallic, silky sheen. I mixed the green patina myself from green Revell paint and Clou furniture wax and filled the deep ornamental lines with it. I painted over some areas (especially the ornamented base and the two medallions) with brass paint and patinated them with shoe polish. I attached the two medallions to the vase with small brass screws, which I glued on their back.

The burner supplied was by Hugo Schneider and was defective. I mounted a Kosmos Normal burner with the soldered shade holder. This has given this W&W lamp a good old W&W burner. The old Vesta shade with the flat rolled top edge also suits the lamp well, as the milk glass is very slightly greenish.

The result is a very handsome, large salon lamp that reflects the zeitgeist and taste of historicism. It was probably originally painted in a greenish colour in large areas (except the vase, handles and medallions). My version is much darker, but made more distinguished by the combination of black and gold.

Lamp Data

Added by me:
Burner with soldered shade holder, glass chimney and Vesta shade.

Cleaning and repairs:
I thoroughly cleaned the entire lamp, carefully painted over it (with paints in black, green, gold bronze and copper bronze) and then patinated it. The women's medallions were attached with glued screws.

Lamp body:
Base of ornamentally decorated cast zinc, on four feet, Ø 182 mm. The base marked at the bottom: 1260.
Vase of black painted zinc sheet, with two different women's medallions of cast zinc. Two stylised handles, also of cast zinc. Vase Ø 148 mm, with handles 211 mm. Separate additional container of sheet brass in the vase.
Drop-in font of clear, colourless glass, cemented under the lid of cast zinc. Lid Ø 117 mm.

Burner:
14’’’ Kosmos Normal burner of Wild & Wessel, Berlin, soldered to the shade holder.
Wick knob marked: Six-pointed star (probably for traders).
Wick tube marked: Patent Brevet.
Flat wick 66 mm.

Glass chimney:
14’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 265 mm, Ø fitter 53 mm.
Marked: Kristall 14''' + crown.

Shade and shade holder:
Vesta shade of white milk glass (very slightly greenish), top rim flat rolled.
Height 175 mm, Ø fitter 234 and bulge 265 mm.
235 mm shade holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners, soldered to the burner.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 35.7 cm, total height with chimney 66.6 cm.
Total weight 3960 g.