L.055

My first Imari lamp, which was offered on eBay France as a Chinese lamp. It is also possible that the vase is a Chinese copy of Imari porcelain, because Imari ware (real name: Arita porcelain) was copied very often in the past. I do not know how to interpret the symbolism of the Imari painting. This lamp is captivating not only because of the hand-painted porcelain vase in Imari style, but also because of the floral patterned base in cast brass.

When I dismantled the lamp at home, I discovered that it had been electrified in the past. On the locking plate under the base, and also on the font, there are holes for the cable. The hole at the font was soldered shut with a lot of solder; however, the spot was completely leaky and had to be soldered shut once again.

After some searching, I managed to find a tulip shade whose colour matched the Imari red far better than the cranberry colours of other tulip shades. However, this tulip shade was damaged at the fitter (broken off edge), and therefore I had to shorten the lower edge with diamond flex discs about 7-8 mm to make the damaged edge disappear behind the globe holder.

Since the supplied glass chimney without brand was about 5 cm shorter than the usual Kosmos 14’’’ chimneys, I replaced it with a marked chimney.

Lamp Data

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

Cleaning and repairs:
The hole at the font is closed by a soldered lead plate.

Lamp body:
Cast brass base, with multiple openwork floral design, on 4 feet, 114 x 114 mm, Ø 160 mm.
Porcelain vase, hand-painted in typical Imari motifs in red and cobalt blue. The golden decorative lines are quite rubbed off. Vase Ø 126 mm.
Galvanised sheet iron font, with brass lid, Ø 102 mm. The font is hidden in the vase. The font bears a hole from an earlier electrification, which has been roughly soldered shut.

Burner:
14’’’ Kosmos burner of Wetzchewald & Wilmes, Neheim.
Wick knob marked: Logo of Wetzchewald & Wilmes.
Flat wick 68 mm.

Glass chimney:
14’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 250 mm, Ø fitter 52 mm.
Marked: Prima Cristal 14''' + crown in a circle.

Shade and shade holder:
British tulip shade, frosted glass, light red top, lighter at bottom, deep-etched flowers, top rim fluted.
Height 172 mm, Ø fitter 66 and top rim 145 mm.
70 mm globe holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 27.2 cm, total height with chimney 55.7 cm.
Total weight 1800 g.