L.331
This zinc cast lamp with the almost obligatory putti depictions is made in a dignified historicism style and probably dates from about 1880-1890. My hope that it might be by W&W, K&T or R. Ditmar etc. was unfortunately not fulfilled: There are no numbers or other markings to be found. All well-known manufacturers have such lamps, even very similar ones; but I could not find exactly this lamp in any catalogue. The lamp L.202 by R. Ditmar shows a great similarity. The scene depicted is a bacchanalia with putti. The front and the back show the same scene.
The lamp was almost completely black when it came to me. The blackening was not the result of the usual tarnishing; presumably the lamp had been dyed black at some point. I first carefully sanded the entire lamp, then primed it with dark shoe polish and selectively bronzed it with brass wax. I kept the background of the putti relief uniformly dark with a mixture of gold wax and shoe polish. The result, in my opinion, is truly showcase-worthy.
The burner supplied was a Diamant burner (14''' Mitrailleusen burner) from S&G. However, it was completely destroyed and was discarded. Instead, I installed a 14’’’ Kosmos-Normal burner from W&W with the permanently attached globe holder on it.
The ball shade by the Viennese glass manufacturer Schreiber & Neffen is decorated with three medallions showing a putto in tree branches playing with a bird. The glass is otherwise richly etched with flowers. This ball shade completes the lamp excellently.
Lamp Data
Added by me:
Burner, glass chimney, ball shade and globe holder.
Cleaning and repairs:
The entire lamp carefully sanded, primed with shoe polish and re-bronzed (brass wax Laiton).
Lamp body:
Lamp body of ornamental zinc casting. Round base, Ø 143 mm.
Vase with surrounding frieze depicting a bacchanalia with putti. Two soldered baroque handles. Vase Ø 125 mm, with the handles 170 mm. In the vase an additional container made of brass sheet.
Drop-in font of colourless glass, transparent, cemented under the lid made of cast zinc, Ø 144 mm.
Burner:
14’’’ Kosmos-Normal burner of Wild & Wessel, Berlin, with firmly attached globe holder.
Wick knob marked: W&W Kosmos=Normal. Wick knob back: Ornamental W&W cord.
Wick tube marked: Patent Breveté S.G.D.G.
Flat wick 70 mm.
Glass chimney:
14’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 245 mm, Ø fitter 54 mm.
Marked: Super Cristal - La Semeuse - Marque Déposée 14 + sowing woman in front of the rising sun.
Shade and shade holder:
Ball shade by Schreiber & Neffen, frosted colourless glass, cameo-etched putti and flowers.
Height 172 mm, Ø fitter 81 and bulge 178 mm.
85 mm globe holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners; original by Wild & Wessel, firmly attached to the burner.
Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 29.0 cm, total height with chimney 57.5 cm.
Total weight 2860 g.
