L.043

A small French tripod lamp with cast brass metal parts and hand-painted glass font. The lamp is shown in the S.I. Paris catalogue around 1900, but with a different font. Again with a different font, it can be seen in Bernard Mahot's book.

The metal frame differs somewhat from the usual tripod lamps, as the three rising arms are here stylistically bound together with the actual base part to form a harmonious unit. These three arms consist mainly of three narrow, elongated faun heads, which are held together at the bottom by a ring. The ring also serves to hold the font, which is screwed to it with a screw at the bottom. In this respect, this lamp differs from ordinary tripod lamps, where a free-standing font is suspended in a ring held at the top.

The font is made in an elongated form that narrows towards the bottom, matching the shape of the brass parts. It is made of colourless, etched glass that is sparsely painted with small flowers. However, it is a little bit too wide for the base part, because the three arms with the faun heads are pushed apart by the width of the font when you tighten the lower screw. I solved this problem well with an extra brass ring under the metal undermount of the font.

Years later, I bought a beautiful, interesting tulip shade that I think goes well with this lamp. I suspect that this tulip may have been made for old oil lamps with Argand burners, because the way it is made and the engraved/cut ornamentation are quite similar to the Sinumbra shades, which, however, are much larger than this tulip (compare the Sinumbra shades on L.230 and L.309).

Lamp Data

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

Cleaning and repairs:
Not necessary.

Lamp body:
Triangular lamp body with three supporting arms of three stylised faun heads in cast brass, connected in the lower area with a decorated triangular base part. Base edge length 118 mm. Metal part by S.I. Paris.
Font of semi-transparent, frosted glass, in goblet form, painted with floral motifs, Ø 99 mm.

Burner:
8’’’ Kosmos burner of Brökelmann, Jaeger & Busse, Neheim.
Wick knob marked: Kosmos-Brenner.
Flat wick 43 mm.

Glass chimney:
8’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 213 mm, Ø fitter 36 mm.
Marked: 8’’’.

Shade and shade holder:
Tulip shade (probably for old oil lamps?), colourless glass, partly frosted, engraved ornamentation, flat top rim. Without slip fitter.
Height 131 mm, Ø bottom opening 52 and bulge 107 mm.
70 mm globe holder for 8’’’ burners.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 21.3 cm, total height with chimney 45.7 cm.
Total weight 940 g.