18th Century Oil Lamp

Description

Heading : An 18th century open flame oil lamp
Date : Second half 18th century
Period : George III
Origin : English or continental
Colour : Clear
Bowl : Funnel
Stem : Hollow knopped stem with drip pan
Foot : Conical and folded
Pontil : Snapped
Type : Soda lime
Size : 25.7cm tall with a 7cm bowl and 13.5cm foot  
Condition : Excellent
Restoration : None
Weight :  396grams

Additional Information : We have been looking forward to dispelling the myth of the lacemakers lamp. All collectors accept that during the 18th century glass was a costly commodity and lacemaking was not a well paid career. These are also too plentiful to have been anything other than for domestic use for those who could afford to buy lace. Surely intricate work dependent upon light levels would necessitate a multiple spouted burner not a single one. We also do not subscribe to the theory that the resevoirs would be used as candlelight condensers when filled with water. physics alone negates this and the absence of limescale in the resevoirs also indicates otherwise. unless that is all lacemakers had access to water softeners.

What is of more interest is the oil that they would burn. It most certainly was not mineral based until the first mineral oil was imported from the Americas or the shale oil boom in the 19th century. Vegetable oil. fish oil or even the unmentionable whale oil will have been used as a time when the proletariat used candles made from tallow.

The pinched handle is made from two gathers of glass. This is an unusual feature. most others have swan neck handles made from a single piece. It is also worth noting that that this type of handle is frequently found on French and Dutch lamps. Perhaps the style was influenced by Hugenot lacemakers and thus the myth.