L.352
An early Wild & Wessel lamp (W&W no. 312), probably made around 1865, with cast zinc base and stem and with finely painted font of blue opal glass.
This is a somewhat unusual Wild & Wessel lamp. The embossed W&W number 312 can be seen under the base. According to this, it should be a very early Wild & Wessel lamp; it was probably made shortly before 1865.
The zinc cast lamp body has an interesting design: the stem part is formed by three elephant heads. The previous owner had sprayed the cast zinc with brass paint, which of course looked unsuitable. I primed the lamp with brown-black shoe polish and bronzed it with gold wax.
The beautifully painted font has a metal undermount with thread and can be unscrewed. The painting with enamel colours is fine and detailed.
The old German tulip shade, acquired from eBay France, is much younger than the lamp, but fortunately still fits the lamp very well.
Lamp Data
Added by me:
Glass chimney, tulip shade and globe holder.
Cleaning and repairs:
Re-bronzed the lamp body with brass wax (Laiton) according to my method.
Lamp body:
Base and stem of ornamental zinc casting, base Ø 152 mm. Marked under the base: 312. Stem in the shape of three elephant heads. Lamp body was sprayed with gold coloured spray paint.
Font of light blue milk glass with fine floral painting, Ø 150 mm. Metal undermount with typical Wild & Wessel decoration. The font can be unscrewed.
Burner:
14’’’ Kosmos burner of Wild & Wessel, Berlin.
Wick knob marked: W&W Kosmos. Wick knob back: Ornamental W&W cord.
Wick tube marked: Patent Breveté SGDG.
Flat wick 66 mm.
Glass chimney:
14’’’ Kosmos chimney. Height 260 mm, Ø fitter 53 mm.
Marked: Ab Teya Made in Tchechoslovakia + lamp.
Shade and shade holder:
German tulip shade, colourless glass, satin finish with sandblasting, flat transparent ornamentation, scalloped top rim.
Height 190 mm, Ø fitter 69 and bulge 171 mm.
70 mm globe holder for 14’’’/15’’’ burners.
Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 31.6 cm, total height with chimney 62.0 cm.
Total weight 2550 g.
