L.171

A high quality lamp with a cast brass vase to be used in French hanging lamps. Probably made around 1880-1900. The dating is based solely on the extremely precisely made cast brass vase. I had the impression that the casting quality of later lamps had deteriorated.

I had always been interested in openwork cast brass lamps but could not bring myself to buy one as they seemed to me to be of inferior quality. This lamp now made me strike after all, because it had a Central Vulkan burner that was aged just like the lamp itself, so should have been original to the lamp; and the cast vase had a very interesting pattern. The lamp was completely tarnished dark brown.

It was difficult to take the lamp apart because the nut at the bottom was rusted and completely caked. I worked it with flex until it came loose. There is a cast iron weight in the base, marked D R NO 3. The iron weight was rusty, of course. I ground off the rust and treated the weight with Hammerite rust converter.

Everything on the burner that came with it is original. Only the wick was homemade and used up, so I replaced it with an imitation Central Vulkan wick (acquired from a collector friend).

I added a brass ring to a 100 mm globe holder and fitted it to the burner with three pieces of soldered brass, so that the globe holder now fits well. A beautiful British tulip shade and a marked Central Vulkan chimney completed the lamp.

After thorough cleaning and polishing, the lamp shines beautifully. It has a superbly designed and very well cast pattern on its vase. Certainly a high quality French style suspension lamp.

Lamp Data

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

Cleaning and repairs:
Iron weight derusted and treated with rust converter. Globe holder adapted to burner with soldered brass ring. Lamp completely cleaned and polished.

Lamp body:
Base and connector of smooth, profiled pressed brass sheet, base inside with iron weight, marked: D R NO 3. Base Ø 145 mm.
Vase of ornamental openwork brass casting with 9-fold pattern, Ø 183 mm.
Font of sheet brass, soldered under the lid of profiled sheet brass, screwed to the base with threaded rod. Lid Ø 113 mm.

Burner:
16’’’ Central Vulkan burner of Wild & Wessel, Berlin.
Wick knob marked: W&W Central Vulkan.
Wick tube marked: 16 W.&W. Central D.R. Patent 18574.
Original Central Vulkan flame disc, marked: 16.
Reproduced special wick, sewn exactly according to the original.

Glass chimney:
16’’’ Central Vulkan chimney. Height 293 mm, Ø fitter 58 mm.
Marked: Cristal M. & F. 16''' Importé + garland.

Shade and shade holder:
British tulip shade, colourless glass, all-over cameo-etched flowers, top rim fluted.
Height 150 mm, Ø fitter 101 and top rim 225 mm.
100 mm globe holder for 20’’’ burners, adapted to burner with an additional brass ring.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 27.6 cm, total height with chimney 61.4 cm.
Total weight 3340 g.