L.079
A mighty American lamp by Edward Miller & Co. that has not been electrified and is superbly preserved in its original finish. Date of manufacture probably around 1895.
This lamp is my first American lamp. I had not dared to buy lamps from the USA for a long time because of the high shipping costs and customs fees. And to be honest, most of the American lamps did not appeal to me either; they were either of a very simple nature made of cheap pressed glass or had already been electrified and thus rendered useless. When I discovered this lamp, I had to change my philosophy at the time; it was not electrified (which is really rare in the USA), it had an imposing, stately appearance, and it was cleanly preserved in its original finish.
The large, urn-shaped vase of sheet brass is fitted with two handles and two decorative appliqués with lion heads. The decorated base is made of cast iron. As the entire lamp is tarnish-protected and therefore in a very good state of preservation, I have not cleaned anything on the lamp. I only had to solder the cracked side wall of the lifting mechanism.
The usual 9 to 10 inch shades from USA did not fit well to this rather large lamp; they did not harmonise because of their smaller size. Therefore, I bought a rather large, additionally hand-painted, heavy shade from USA, which is possibly more recent (probably around the middle of the 20th century), but fits the lamp better. Surprisingly, the flower motifs printed in colour are additionally hand-painted afterwards. In my opinion, a painted 11 inch (28 cm) ball shade would be better suited to this lamp. A rather tall Matador type chimney from USA completed the lamp.
Lamp Data
Added by me:
Glass chimney and Vesta shade.
Cleaning and repairs:
Soldered the cracked side wall of the lifting mechanism.
Lamp body:
Base of finely decorated, multiple openwork iron casting, on 4 feet, 19.4 x 19.4 cm, Ø 242 mm.
Urn-shaped vase of sheet brass, with 2 handles and appliqués with lion heads, Ø 211 mm; with the handles 271 mm. Vase ring on the upper rim of ornamentally cast brass, Ø 180 mm. All tarnish-protected. In the vase an additional container of sheet iron with several holes for the inner air supply.
Drop-in font of sheet brass (usual 5 inch font), some stress cracks, with ornamental brass lid. Lid Ø 137 mm. Extra oil filler with fill indicator, marked: Miller. Marked on the upper rim of the font: The Miller Lamp Made in USA.
Burner:
USA #2 center-draft burner of Edward Miller, USA, with gallery lifting mechanism.
Horizontal wick wheel combined with the rod of the wick drive system inside. Marked: 2 Patents - Pat. June 28, 1892.
Original flame disc, marked: Logo EM & Co.
Round wick Ø 40 mm, marked: Miller c.
Glass chimney:
USA #2 Matador type chimney. Height 307 mm, Ø fitter 66 mm.
New production without brand.
Shade and shade holder:
Vesta shade, white milk glass, printed and subsequently hand-coloured floral motifs, decorative stripes, fluted upper rim. Probably the shade of a hanging lamp from the middle of the 20th century.
Height 230 mm, Ø fitter 247 and bulge 310 mm.
250 mm shade holder without outer hoop for USA #2 center-draft burners.
Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 32.7 cm, total height with chimney 68.0 cm.
Total weight 5180 g.
