L.224

This lamp and the lamp L.225 are a pair of twins. They came to me from Italy. Both are made of cast zinc and have stone bases of serpentine. They were probably made around 1875-1890 and are almost certainly from Germany.

The serpentine bases of both lamps were damaged at the edges. In addition, the second lamp no longer had a glass font. The burners were two different W&W burners. But owning a pair of these ancient cast zinc lamps, where the ball shades were also present undamaged, did have quite an appeal.

Both lamps consist of sparsely decorated cast zinc vases that have their own cast zinc feet. Attached to the vases are small, ring-shaped handles made of cast brass. Interestingly, the serpentine bases are slightly different: the first lamp has a greenish base, while the base of the second lamp is made of black serpentine and is slightly smaller.

Since the two chimneys supplied are 15’’’ Matador chimneys, I decided to replace the burners with my two 16’’’ Salvator burners that were still free. This also allowed the supplied chimneys to remain on the lamps.

The globe holders are 82 mm in inner diameter at the bottom and therefore sit extremely narrowly on the rim of the globe holders. The previous owner had therefore soldered wide brass rings in the 85 mm globe holders of the two W&W burners to give the globe holders stability. I also had to use 85 mm globe holders with the Salvator burners; I had no suitable 95 mm globe holders, which would have been much better. Therefore I took these brass rings from the original burners and soldered them into my globe holders.

For cleaning and restoration see at L.225.

Lamp Data

Added by me:
Burner with flame disc and globe holder.

Cleaning and repairs:
The broken edges of the serpentine base filled with Stabilit and polished. Brass ring soldered into the globe holder, to stabilise the ball shade. Zinc castings cleaned, lacquered with Faubourg patina and polished.

Lamp body:
Base of stepped turned, greenish-black serpentine, with damaged edge, Ø 146 mm.
On top a vase in urn form of ornamental zinc casting, with two movable handles. Vase Ø 125 mm, with the handles 180 mm. In the vase an additional container made of brass sheet.
Drop-in font of clear glass, cemented under the cast zinc lid to match the vase. Lid Ø 115 mm.

Burner:
16’’’ Salvator burner of Ehrich & Graetz, Berlin.
Wick knob marked: Logo of Ehrich & Graetz.
Wick knob ring marked: 16''' Salvatorbrenner.
Original flame disc, marked: 16''' Salvatorbrenner E&G.
Flat wick 70 mm.

Glass chimney:
15’’’ Matador chimney. Height 260 mm, Ø fitter 53 mm.
Marked: Cristal de Roche + eagle on globe.

Shade and shade holder:
Ball shade, colourless frosted glass, small cut stars, flat upper rim. Without slip fitter.
Height 156 mm, Ø bottom opening 82 and bulge 174 mm.
85 mm globe holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners, with soldered wide brass ring.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 33.5 cm, total height with chimney 63.0 cm.
Total weight 4030 g.