Oil lamp

1820-1870

Measurements

15-1/2 in x 6-1/2 in (dia)

Materials

Pewter, glass

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp

Accession Number

1959.3661

Inscription

Arabic numbers are cast into the pewter strap holding the glass reservoir.

Condition Notes

The lamp has as repair to the shaft below the wick pan.  The top or lid of the pan is missing.  The lamp was once electrified.

Provenance

Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp

Comments

The tall oil lamp has a narrow cylindrical shaft on a flared base with high-rimmed edge forming a pan.  The shaft supports a horizontal arm for a wick pan.  A glass reservoir above the shaft holds oil that feeds the wick by gravity.  One of two straps securing the glass reservoir has Arabic numbers from 1 to 9 cast in relief into it.  They presumably count the number of hours of oil left in the reservoir.  A solid C scroll handle attached to the other strap provides a convenient means of moving the lamp.  The blown glass reservoir has vertical ribs.

This lamp is very similar to one published as fig. 151a in Howard Herschel Cotterell, Adolphe Riff, and Robert M. Vetter, National Types of Old Pewter, rev. ed. (1972), p. 28.