L.161

A very unusual, old Moderator lamp, which had probably been converted into a kerosene/paraffin lamp at some point, because I got it completely without the inner Moderator technique, also without a font and burner, but with an inserted brass part with a thread for screwing in a font. Both the fully unconventional shape and the charming colour scheme make this old lamp with the Chinese vase something out of the ordinary. Lamp was probably constructed around 1850-1870.

An old Chinese 6-cornered porcelain vase with Famille Rose painting was cut down the middle and transformed into an elaborate Moderator lamp, probably mid 19th century. Brass mounts were specially made for the parts of the vase. This can be seen in the fact that the base, for example, was made to fit the somewhat irregular hexagonal foot of the vase.

The lower part of the vase was broken several times at the back and glued together somewhat clumsily. Missing parts had been filled in with plaster. Mr. Kühnel took the glued parts apart, glued them together again and painted over them very beautifully. You can no longer see the broken parts from the outside.

Later I was able to find a matching glass font on eBay France, which matched the lamp body well in size and colour. Unfortunately, the font had a nickel-plated aluminium undermount and a nickel-plated font collar. I replaced the aluminium undermount with an English brass undermount with 21 mm thread. I simply ground off the nickel layer of the font collar.

I was able to complete the lamp very well with a 16’’’ Reform Kosmos burner incl. Kalthoff chimney and a Vianne ball shade. I constructed the matching globe holder myself.

As a Moderator lamp, the lamp was probably already a stately size; but now, with an additional font and a large burner, it has grown into a mighty lamp. It is certainly a truly extraordinary lamp.

Lamp Data

Added by me:
Glass font, burner, glass chimney, ball shade and globe holder.

Cleaning and repairs:
Removed the aluminium undermount from the font and cemented in a matching brass undermount. Porcelain vase repaired professionally by Mr Kühnel.

Lamp body:
Base of elaborate, multiple openwork brass casting, hexagonal, on 6 feet, 17x14 cm.
Old Chinese vase separated in the middle and decorated with brass mounts. In the neck area two porcelain handles. The lower vase part broken several times and glued together. Height (without font) 43.5 cm.
Glass font, slight optical ribbing inside, painted flowers, Ø 153 mm. Nickel-plated aluminium undermount replaced by me.

Burner:
16''' Reform Kosmos burner of Schuster & Baer, Berlin.
Wick knob marked: Reform-Rund-Brenner.
Flat wick 85 mm.

Glass chimney:
16''' Kalthoff chimney. Height 296 mm, Ø fitter 58 mm.
Marked: G.J. Reform-Cylinder 16''' + coat of arms.

Shade and shade holder:
Ball shade by Vianne, transparent glass, pink above, colourless below, flat-etched motifs, optically blown. Lipped fitter.
Height 164 mm, Ø fitter 99 and bulge 182 mm.
Homemade two-tier 100 mm globe holder made of a brass ring with 62 mm inner diameter and a brass trim band.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 58.1 cm, total height with chimney 88.8 cm.
Total weight 4810 g.