L.364

A very unusual glass lamp from the USA, which was probably constructed from different lamp parts that did not originally belong together. When I discovered the lamp (at that time without shade and glass chimney) on eBay USA, it was love at first sight! A beautifully painted glass vase on a finely cast base magically attracted me.

Without a doubt, the most beautiful part of the lamp is the painted glass vase. This vase belongs to a series that has become famous by the renowned British glass manufacturer Thomas Webb. This series is called "Moroccan Tapestry Design". On four sides of the vase, arabesque motifs are executed in fine enamel painting. On a light beige background, curved lines in blue and green are executed, enclosing small flowers. Flower garlands in gold lines are painted on a light blue background, with the gold paint somewhat rubbed off. The two different coloured areas are separated by black frame lines dotted with white. A large blue flower is enthroned in its octagonal frame in the centre of each. The whole painting is reminiscent of fine Persian-Arabic arabesques. Certainly a very rare motif among conventional kerosene/paraffin lamps.

The rest of the lamp seems rather to have been put together from different lamp parts. The vase does not fit exactly into the connector. The brass font and the additional container in the vase seem to be more recent. The font complete with collar and lid is more reddish-copper coloured, the remaining metal parts (base, connector and additional container), however, are in normal brass colour.

The burner is the flat burner "The Solar" by Edward Miller (illustrated in 1905 catalogue). This burner needs a 75 mm chimey. The only chimney I had with a 75 mm fitter measured an imposing 357 mm in height. I shortened this chimney to 255 mm.

The rather squat but rather wide lamp called for an equally wide tulip shade. And indeed, shortly after buying the lamp, I got the very well fitting Vianne tulip shade with the light blue top rim from eBay UK. Together with the tulip shade, which harmonises very well in terms of colour, this lamp is an extraordinary eye-catcher in my collection.

Lamp Data

Added by me:
Glass chimney and tulip shade.

Cleaning and repairs:
I cut the glass chimney 10 cm shorter.

Lamp body:
Base of ornamental openwork cast brass, on 3 feet, side length 18.7 cm. Connector of sheet brass between vase and base.
Vase of polychrome painted milk glass from the series "Moroccan Tapestry Design" by the British glass manufacturer Thomas Webb, finely detailed arabesques in enamel painting, gold lines somewhat rubbed off, Ø 200 mm. In the vase an additional container made of sheet brass.
Drop-in font of brightly polished sheet copper, lid Ø 114 mm, marked at the bottom: Bradley & Hubbard Mfg. Co. #3 USA font collar.

Burner:
USA #3 Solar flat burner of Edward Miller, USA. Burner cap removable (bayonet system). Two thread sizes 31 and 46 mm.
Wick knob marked: The Solar E.M. & Co.
Flat wick 40 mm.

Glass chimney:
USA #3 Vienna type chimney with slim bulge. Height 255 mm, Ø fitter 75 mm. Without brand.
Shortened by me by 10 cm.

Shade and shade holder:
Tulip shade by Vianne, frosted glass, light blue on top, colourless on bottom, cameo-etched flowers, fluted top rim. Lipped fitter.
Height 167 mm, Ø fitter 97 and top rim 193 mm.
100 mm globe holder for USA #3 burners.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 25.5 cm, total height with chimney 52.4 cm.
Total weight 2860 g.