L.093

This is a lamp that came into my collection because of my fondness for Satsuma vases. This lamp caught my interest with its square vase, which I have encountered extremely rarely. It is not as ostentatiously large as the other Satsuma lamps that turn up relatively often on eBay France. The rectangular vase is painted on two opposite sides with scenes of samurai warriors; the other two sides show the brocade-style ornamentation typical of Satsuma. The abundant gold decoration is somewhat rubbed, especially at the round foot of the vase. The vase bears a signature at the bottom, but this has been destroyed by the hole for the electric cable.

The lamp used to be electrified. The holes at the bottom of the fixing plate in the base, in the ceramic vase and in the tin font are evidence of this. The hole in the font was clumsily soldered shut with a lot of solder. It still leaked. I had to solder the tiny holes several times until I got the font tight.

The Kosmos burner that came with it was also pretty much destroyed at the bottom of the inner part with holes to pull the electric cable through. I therefore used another Kosmos burner.

The tulip shade is again a lucky find on eBay France. It is one of those rare tulip shades that have a pattern of air-filled chambers between two layers of glass. The technique to produce such glass is quite elaborate.

All in all, a beautiful lamp, also rare because of the rectangular Satsuma vase.

Lamp Data

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

Cleaning and repairs:
The font leaked at the soldered cable hole and had to be re-soldered.

Lamp body:
Base of floral-ornamented cast brass, on four feet, 12x12 cm.
Vase of square-shaped Satsuma pottery, polychrome painted, much gold decoration (somewhat rubbed), 10x10 cm, signed at the bottom (signature partly destroyed by subsequently added cable hole). Vase collar of openwork, fine brass casting.
Font of sheet iron, with embossed brass lid. Lid Ø 90 mm. The subsequent cable hole closed with solder.

Burner:
14’’’ Kosmos burner of Lacroix & Ferrary, Caen.
Wick knob marked: Marque de Fabrique Deposée. Wick knob back decorated with symbols.
Wick tube marked: L.&F. Manufacture Française de Bruleurs à Pétrole.
Flat wick 66 mm.

Glass chimney:
14’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 248 mm, Ø fitter 51 mm.
Marked: Cristalline - Unis France 14''' + crown and eagle.

Shade and shade holder:
Tulip shade, white milk glass, colourless overlay, lemon yellow at the top, colourless at the bottom, vertically ribbed, cross pattern with air chambers. Top rim fluted and frilled.
Height 128 mm, Ø fitter 69 and top rim 182 mm.
70 mm globe holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 24.1 cm, total height with chimney 53.2 cm.
Total weight 1930 g.