L.119
A quite elaborately designed column lamp made of alabaster and zinc castings. The crystal font is by R. Ditmar (illustrated several times in the 1897 catalogue). However, it is doubtful whether the entire lamp is by R. Ditmar, as the undermount under the crystal font was probably added later. The lamp can be dated around 1890-1895.
The column consists of two alabaster parts, but unfortunately they look quite worn. As the elongated, conical column has only turned opaque white at both ends and still has the original, slightly translucent colour in the central area, I assume that a previous owner tried to clean the cast zinc parts with chemical cleaning agents without disassembling the base and the column. In the process, the chemical also attacked the adjacent alabaster parts and destroyed their crystal structure. I first finely sanded the alabaster surface, which had become completely dull, with steel wool and then polished it with polishing paste. I was thus able to achieve a slight silk sheen.
The cast zinc parts were completely colourless, without a trace of previous bronzing. I cleaned them from the oxide layer, primed them with black shoe polish and then re-bronzed them with gold wax (Or classique). The brass ring below the column had a break; a part about 1.5 cm long was missing. I filled this missing part with Stabilit, sanded it down to fit and painted it with brass paint.
I bought the Elektra burner at an auction with great enthusiasm (and at a high price), because I thought that the burner was complete. A momentous mistake, because the upper three-bladed attachment of the flame disc was missing! I constructed the missing part myself from 1 mm thick sheet brass, as I had the exact measurements from a collector friend (15’’’ Triumph burner from E&G, identical in construction).
I bought the exact Elektra chimney of R. Ditmar at an Austrian auction much later. This chimney has a very faint bulge, and therefore differs from other, comparable chimneys.
A full 7 years later, I received a large, very finely hand-painted tulip with another lamp that was too small for the tulip shade. This tulip shade crowns now this interesting column lamp in the most beautiful way!
Lamp Data
Added by me:
Burner with flame disc (upper part of it self-constructed), glass chimney, tulip shade and globe holder.
Cleaning and repairs:
See above.
Lamp body:
Base of elaborately ornamented cast zinc, square, on 4 feet, 16 x 16 cm.
Column and column base of alabaster, partly chemically attacked. Zinc cast capital. Base and column altogether 9 parts.
Font of hand-cut crystal glass by R. Ditmar, Ø 168 mm, firmly connected to the threaded rod. Undermount probably foreign.
Burner:
15’’’ Elektra burner of Gebr. Brünner, Vienna, with gallery raiser.
Wick knob marked: Elektra Brenner Patent.
Deflector marked: Gebrüder Brünner Wien.
Original flame disc; the three-bladed attachment is self-made.
Flat wick 90 mm, marked: DHR Kat20.
Glass chimney:
15’’’ Elektra chimney with very narrow bulge. Height 300 mm, Ø fitter 59 mm.
Marked: 15''' Wiener-Triumph & Elektra + Logo Ditmar-Brünner AG.
Shade and shade holder:
Tulip shade, colourless glass, frosted, painted flowers and butterflies, top rim wavy cut.
Height 245 mm, Ø fitter 85 and bulge 175 mm.
85 mm globe holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners; slotted and adjusted to the burner.
Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 51.9 cm, total height with chimney 84.5 cm.
Total weight 4280 g.
