L.151

A Wild & Wessel lamp (W&W no. 1111) from the early Historicism, dated ca. 1870-1875. Lamp body made of ornamental zinc casting and zinc sheet with applications of zinc casting. The lamp was electrified. As a result, the glass font and the Sonnenbrenner (Sun Burner) by R. Ditmar were destroyed. I naturally reversed the electrification.

I replaced the destroyed own burner with a Central Vulkan burner. I later bought the glass font with a cemented majolica lid. Then I had to saw off the majolica piece by piece to expose the glass font. I sewed the two very frayed wicks of the burner into additional wicks. Despite the frayed wick, the burner burns excellently.

In the anniversary catalogue of W&W (plate 19), the lamp is shown with the Central Vulkan burner and with an opaque Paris shade. I was able to acquire a well-matching old Paris shade, which is shown several times in Schubert & Sorge's catalogues from 1887 onwards.

The two medallions are the most beautiful parts of the lamp: two angels symbolise the sunrise (roses; sunrays) and the sunset (veil with stars). All ornamental parts and applications of the lamp from the base to the handles were originally bronzed in gold, of which only sparse remains are left now. I have coloured them again with brass wax.

Lamp Data

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

Cleaning and repairs:
The destroyed Sonnenbrenner by R. Ditmar replaced with a Central Vulkan burner. The zinc castings were re-bronzed with brass wax (Laiton).

Lamp body:
Base of ornamental cast zinc, round, on 4 feet, Ø 160 mm. The base marked at the bottom: 1111. On top a stepped short column.
Elongated, urn-shaped vase of sheet zinc (probably additionally nickel-plated), with two different medallions of cast zinc with winged female figures allegorically symbolising day and night. Two stylised handles, also of cast zinc. Vase Ø 140 mm, with handles 212 mm.
Drop-in font of clear, colourless glass, cemented under the lid of zinc sheet. Lid Ø 128 mm. Separate additional bowl of sheet brass in the vase.

Burner:
16’’’ Central Vulkan burner of Wild & Wessel, Berlin, with raiser.
Wick knob marked: Logo with circle of stars, for traders.
Deflector marked: 16.
Original Central Vulkan flame disc, marked: 16.
Original Central Vulkan wick.

Glass chimney:
16’’’ Central Vulkan chimney. Height 295 mm, Ø fitter 58 mm.
Marked: A. Robert - D.R. Patent 31839 - 16.

Shade and shade holder:
Paris shade, white milk glass, transparent at the bottom, flat upper rim. This shade is illustrated several times in the Schubert & Sorge catalogues (around 1890).
Height 190 mm, Ø fitter 84 and bulge 222 mm.
85 mm globe holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners, slotted and adapted to the burner.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 37.8 cm, total height with chimney 72.8 cm.
Total weight 4230 g.