L.110
A quite early zinc cast lamp by Wild & Wessel (no. 511) with a very charming depiction of an ancient Greek bacchanal. It dates from 1865-1870. The cylindrical vase depicts bacchants (3 women and 8 men) exuberantly making music, dancing and celebrating. The base stands on three feet in the shape of female winged sphinxes.
The lamp was probably taken apart at some point and the individual parts were glued together again. The upper part of the lamp is firmly attached to the base part; you cannot turn them independently or assemble them apart. Only the cylindrical vase wall with the frieze and the zinc cast ring directly underneath can still be turned. In addition, a funnel-shaped conical iron sheet that narrows towards the top is soldered inside at the bottom, which means that you can no longer see the typical W&W model number.
The attachment of the glass font is also somewhat puzzling. It is cemented directly to the upper neck of the lamp. The putty was still original; you could see the typical decorations of W&W metal undermount on the putty. But the brass undermount was gone. I sanded this putty down a bit and reshaped it. After all, the font is an original W&W font (pictured in the W&W catalogue with some early lamps).
The lamp was really used up; the entire zinc cast surface was so badly rubbed off and weathered that only the remnants of a former bronzing could be seen in tiny depressions. I had to thoroughly clean the entire surface with sanding attachments and steel wool. I primed the lamp with dark shoe polish to which I had added some copper wax. Then I bronzed the lamp with a mixture of Cuivre+Laiton 2:1.
Lamp Data
Added by me:
Burner, glass chimney, ball shade and globe holder.
Cleaning and repairs:
Lamp completely cleaned and newly bronzed (Cuivre + Laiton 2:1).
Lamp body:
Entire lamp body made of cast zinc. Round base on three feet in the shape of winged sphinxes, base side length 14 cm.
Vase with surrounding frieze with Greek bacchants in relief. Top of the vase Ø 102 mm.
Original W&W clear glass font, stepped, Ø 119 mm. Font cemented directly to the upper neck of the vase, not removable.
Burner:
10’’’ Kosmos burner of Wild & Wessel, Berlin.
Wick knob marked: W&W Kosmos. Wick knob back: Ornamental W&W cord.
Wick tube marked: 10''' Kosmos.
Flat wick 50 mm.
Glass chimney:
10’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 243 mm, Ø fitter 39 mm.
Marked: Breveté SGDG Pyrex 10''' France Marque Deposée.
Shade and shade holder:
Ball shade, colourless glass, frosted inside, 1 brass ring on top. Without slip fitter.
Height 152 mm, Ø bottom opening 55 and bulge 161 mm.
70 mm globe holder for 10’’’ burners.
Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 30.9 cm, total height with chimney 59.5 cm.
Total weight 2280 g.
