L.124

A rather unusual ceramic lamp for American taste, made by the US lamp manufacturer R. Hollings in Boston, partly with parts from Europe. Manufactured around 1890-1900.

The strictly cylindrical vase is a product of the French ceramic manufacturer Gien. It is signed at the bottom (mark from 1875; letter L dates 1889). Inside it has a label of the manufacturing company R. Hollings & Co, Boston. This vase was probably originally a regular flower vase, because it is drilled at the bottom later to attach a threaded rod. It must also have originally been taller, because it is sawed off at the top.

The vase is painted with carnations in three different colours on an intense blue background. This painting with enamel colours became world famous through the French manufactories Longwy, Gien and Vieillard. Maria finds that the pattern and colouring are reminiscent of Ottoman tiles from Iznik.

The Duplex burner by Wright & Butler is from Birmingham. An amazing Duplex burner that has an opening inside for refilling kerosene/paraffin and also a fill indicator, making it probably unique. It is likely that Hollings fitted fine lamps with British Duplex burners (there is a book in Metropolitan Museum, NY, entitled: R. Hollings & Co. Manufacturers of Gas Fixtures and Duplex Lamps). I was able to find other Hollings lamps of very similar construction on the internet, often with ceramic vases and Duplex burners from Europe.

I replaced the large Matador chimney that came with the lamp with a marked Duplex chimney.

The British tulip shade for gas lamps fits this lamp perfectly with its shape and decoration, as the stylised flowers somehow remind of the painted carnations on the vase and the rather cylindrical shape harmonises very well with the lamp. Since the lower opening of the tulip shade is quite large, I had to construct a corresponding holder so that the tulip could stand securely on the globe holder. To do this, I simply placed another globe holder upside down on the original globe holder of the burner. The tulip shade now sits on the inverted edge of this additional globe holder.

Lamp Data

Added by me:
Glass chimney, tulip shade and additional globe holder.

Cleaning and repairs:
See above.

Lamp body:
Base of ornamentally decorated cast brass, on 4 feet, 152 x 152 mm, Ø 192 mm. Under the foot a weight of cast iron.
Vase of hand-painted majolica by Gien, France, with label by R. Hollings, Boston, USA, cylindrical round, Ø 126, height 145 mm.
Font made of sheet brass, hidden in the vase. Lid of stepped sheet brass, Ø 133 mm.

Burner:
Duplex burner of Wright & Butler, Birmingham, with thread fitting. Kerosene/paraffin filler opening and fill indicator. Firmly connected to the globe holder.
Two wick knobs, marked: Wright & Butler Improved Duplex Burner Birmingham. Black glass inlays.
Two flat wicks, each 28 mm; additional transport wick.

Glass chimney:
Duplex chimney with oval bulge. Height 256 mm, Ø fitter 64 mm.
Marked: Griffin-Brand Fireproof Foreign + griffin.

Shade and shade holder:
British tulip shade for gas lamps, frosted glass, cranberry coloured on top, lighter at the bottom, slightly raised, transparent floral motifs, upper rim fluted. Without slip fitter.
Height 132 mm, Ø bottom opening 111 and top rim 200 mm.
100 mm globe holder for 20’’’ burners, integral part of the burner. Additional 100 mm globe holder mounted upside down on top.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 24.3 cm, total height with chimney 52.2 cm.
Total weight 3410 g.