L.332

A rare British lamp with a lamp body of typical Wedgwood jasperware. I have only seen two Wedgwood lamps on eBay UK in the past 10 years. Presumably similar lamps go to auction houses or antique dealers. The lamp here is dated 1888 with the letter Q in the base.

"Jasperware” is a ceramic product developed by Josiah Wedgwood in the 1770's that is somewhere between earthenware and stoneware. It has a porous surface with an appearance similar to unglazed bisque porcelain. In the early years of production, the entire ceramic mass was coloured through. There were some colours that survived the firing process well. The most famous of these was a light blue, which is also found on this lamp. Wedgwood's fame came from the raised applied figures, mostly coloured white, taken from Greek antiquity.

The lamp has become somewhat yellowish, especially in the upper shoulder area, due to the penetration of kerosene/paraffin residues. The decorative white applications are also partially affected.

Since the collar is from Hinks & Son, the lamp also received a Duplex burner from Hinks. The light blue set Vianne tulip shade really fits perfectly here, as it has almost the same colour as the lamp.

This lamp joins the ranks of beautiful, sublime, high quality British lamps in my collection. It is very rare. Some of the appliqués on it can be seen on Wedgwood's very new products.

Lamp Data

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

Cleaning and repairs:
Not necessary.

Lamp body:
Lamp body made of a special ceramic mass by Wedgwood, called Jasperware, with light blue surface. Typical white applications of four Hellenistic figures and finely worked plant motifs. Some figures show very fine cracks, caused by the firing process during production. Shoulder area of the vase slightly yellowish discoloured due to the absorption of kerosene/paraffin on the porous surface after years of use. Base Ø 140 mm, vase Ø top 107, bottom at the bulge 130 mm. Under the foot stamped: Q (corresponds to the year 1888).
Lamp body is also a kerosene/paraffin tank. 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's Duplex No.2. Beige ceramic inlay.
Cap bridge marked: Hinks & Son Patent.
Two flat wicks, each 27 mm. Additional transport wick.

Glass chimney:
Duplex chimney with oval bulge. Height 258 mm, Ø fitter 64 mm.
Marked: Griffin-Brand Fireproof Foreign + griffin.

Shade and shade holder:
Tulip shade by Vianne (signed), frosted glass, blue above, colourless below, flat transparent motifs, optically vertically ribbed, fluted top rim. Lipped fitter.
Height 137 mm, Ø fitter 98 and top rim 205 mm.
100 mm globe holder for 20’’’ burners, marked: Rd. 65891; integral part of the burner.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 18.6 cm, total height with chimney 48.6 cm.
Total weight 2370 g.