L.060

An interesting cast zinc lamp by R. Ditmar, featuring a revealing female figure that must have somewhat shocked the prudish society of the Dual Monarchy. Perhaps it was also intended as a light source for certain establishments. I found it in eBay Classifieds. It probably dates from 1890-1900. It has the model number 8623 and is listed in the 1897 catalogue.

Unfortunately the bright original bronzing was only well preserved in a few places, otherwise the lamp was quite darkened. In places the cast zinc base was peeping through. I completely re-bronzed the lamp using my method with brass wax (Laiton).

The lamp has an interesting feature: the glass font is not plastered under the zinc cast lid as usual, but only on the collar. The lid is then screwed onto the collar. This gave the lamp designers at R. Ditmar the option of combining the same glass font with other lids. Surprisingly, however, this possibility rarely occurs. Only one other Ditmar lamp in my collection (L.202) shows the same feature.

The supplied flat burner was attached to the collar with an adapter. The collar is a normal 39.5 mm collar. This allowed me to put on another burner, because the own flat burner was much too small for the lamp. The new burner is the Flachdocht-Sonnenbrenner (= Flat wick sun burner) from Gebr. Brünner, and I have the absolutely matching chimney for it. I was able to complete the lamp well with a white Vesta shade.

Lamp Data

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

Cleaning and repairs:
The complete lamp cleaned and re-bronzed.

Lamp body:
Lamp body completely made of cast zinc. Base four-cornered, Ø 146 mm.
A young woman in negligee is depicted on the vase, giving rather a revealingly amorous image with her breast exposed and her hair fully undone. This fully sculptured female figure can be seen on four sides. Vase Ø 132 mm.
Drop-in font of clear glass. The font is only plastered to the collar, the zinc cast lid is screwed to the collar. Font lid Ø 119 mm.

Burner:
15’’’ Flachdocht-Sonnenbrenner of Gebr. Brünner, Vienna (this is not the Sonnenbrenner by R. Ditmar).
Wick knob marked: Gebrüder Brünner Wien.
Original flame disc of the type Hat-on-sieve-tube.
Flat wick 70 mm.

Glass chimney:
15’’’ Matador chimney. Height 253 mm, Ø fitter 53 mm.
Marked: Cristal - S&N Lucifer M - 15''' Flachdocht-Sonnenbrenner.

Shade and shade holder:
Vesta shade, white milk glass, flat rolled top rim
Height 159 mm, Ø fitter 233 and bulge 257 mm.
235 mm shade holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 26.0 cm, total height with chimney 55.0 cm.
Total weight 2730 g.