L.157

An unusual lamp in every respect, because it has been converted from a former French Moderator lamp into a British kerosene/paraffin lamp. The complete Moderator technique was removed, a matching kerosene/paraffin font made of sheet brass was integrated inside and a bayonet collar by Hinks & Son was soldered to the top. The entire lamp was originally silver-plated, of which only meagre remains are now present. Due to heavy cleaning, the silver layer is almost completely worn off, especially on the figures.

At some point, the lamp was converted into an electric lamp by not drilling or destroying anything, but by inserting an adapter with bayonet clamps, which engages in the bayonet bars of the collar like a Duplex burner. You can use this adapter with any lamp with a British bayonet collar if you like. I discarded the silk shade with fringes that came with it.

I first cleaned and polished the lamp with the finest steel wool. Then I primed it with my dark shoe polish and polished it again. I completely covered the background of the frieze between the figures with the dark shoe polish, so that the figures now stand out extremely effectively.

This frieze of figures represents a Bacchic procession: 3 women and 5 men form the frieze. 2 women play musical instruments (lyre, tambourine) and one woman dances with castanets. 2 men have peculiar "tails" on their lower spine, some wear animal skins, one plays on 2 flutes, one dances. Parts of these figures are taken from an antique vase that is in the Louvre. Part of the frieze is illustrated in the book by Jakob von Falke: Hellas und Rom - Eine Culturgeschichte des classischen Alterthums (= Hellas and Rome - A Cultural History of Classical Antiquity); ca. 1880.

Lamp was completed with a Hinks burner and oval-bulge chimney. The somewhat unusual fluted tulip shade, on the other hand, is from the USA. It is actually intended for gas lamps, but fits well here because of the colour.

Lamp Data

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

Cleaning and repairs:
See above.

Lamp body:
Base of ornamentally pressed brass with pearl borders. Foot Ø 134 mm. An iron weight under the base.
Vase of sheet copper with a surrounding frieze of players/musicians of a Hellenic pageant, strongly sculptured and very expressive.
Brass sheet font, hidden in the vase, not removable. Font lid of stepped sheet brass with pearl border, with remnants of the former silver plating. Pearl border Ø 115 mm. Bayonet collar marked: Hinks & Son's Patent.

Burner:
Duplex burner of Hinks & Son, Birmingham, bayonet fitting, with gallery lifter and extinguisher. Firmly combined with the globe holder.
Wick knob marked: Hinks No.2 Lever.
Cap bridge marked: Hinks & Son Patent.
Two flat wicks, each 27 mm. Transport wick not provided.

Glass chimney:
Duplex chimney with oval bulge. Height 251 mm, Ø fitter 64 mm.
Marked: Fire Proof - Foreign + anchor.

Shade and shade holder:
American tulip shade for gas lamps, frosted glass, dark pink above, lighter below, flat transparent flowers, upper rim fluted and angular ruffled. Lipped fitter.
Height 126 mm, Ø fitter 101 and top rim bulge 202 mm.
100 mm globe holder for 20’’’ burners; integral part of the burner.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 21.6 cm, total height with chimney 51.0 cm.
Total weight 2880 g.

Illustration of the frieze of the antique lamp in the Louvre
From: Jakob von Falke: Hellas und Rom - Eine Culturgeschichte des classischen Alterthums (= Hellas and Rome - A Cultural History of Classical Antiquity; published about 1880)