New pics of oil lamp Had to start a new thread

Sorry I had to start a new thread but I was able to take new pictures outside with natural light so I hope they came out better. I do not believe the chains had wires in them, I did notice that the hole in the bottom has threads. The snake is solid, one picture is ofvthe back of the mounting plate. I believe it hangs from a wall. Thanks for so much help, you guys are great!!!

 

Oh . . . drool!

 

whoa -- fabulous piece !

 

Now them is some good pictures !!!!

I know I shouldn't say this here but I'd like to see that whole kit & kaboodle shined up to near an inch of it's life !!!

 

Some will find this shocking but the new pix actually help support the minority opinion regarding an electric lamp. If the hole in bottom center is threaded, it may have held a small rotary spst on-off switch as they were made with threaded bodies for use in lamps and such. Then large hole near bottom of wall mounting plate may have been for the electric supply wires from the wall, which would have either wrapped around the snake thing or run along one or both sides, then down to the lamp thing via the chain nearest to the hole, into the hole, etc. One of those gold-colored fabric-covered cords wouldn't have looked too bad running along the outside of a bronze or brass lamp and chains. If you still think it is an oil lamp, well it might be but that'd be easier to believe if you can come up with an explanation for the two large holes I think were for electrical purposes.

 

I'm workin on it !!

 

The existence of two holes in what would have been the well, as well as any "threaded" parts makes me think it was electrified as well. Also the presence of the fourth, larger hole in the wall bracket, which has no "mounting" purpose, so i would assume a switch or wiring.

 

Here's another with the light sockets, in a group lot.
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/17334642_pair-of-antique-bronze-mounted-cassolettes

 

If this lamp was electrical I wonder if people converted oil lamps to electrical lamps when electricity became more popular, the reason I ask is because the more i look it over the hole in the bottom doesn't match the rest of the lamp. Eithervway it works for me because I could run low wattage lights and not damage it.

 

Looks like the post at 8:10 linked to an identical fixture but with the original light sockets. This is the pic if any of our linkophobic members declined to go there but want to see it. Pic copied here under doctrine of free use for educational purposes.

 

Ja ,das ist sehr gut !!!

Excellent find !!!

I will now replace Spring ...on that long march into that dark and cold place of I was soooooooo wrong ......with tail between legs for effect !!!!

 

still marching.......

 

I looked at that and it looks like the exact one, it did describe it as an oil lamp converted to electrical. Thanks for all the help. I really appreciate it. Thanks !!!!!

 

Looks like the chains are different too. !

 

And I don't see any place for those cool faces/heads!
But other than that, it's identical!

However, it does show how it was to be hung, and that helps.

 

I think it is a converted colza oil chandelier with the urn removed.
https://www.google.com/search?q=bro...hl=en&tbm=isch&q=Colza+oil+chandelier&imgrc=_

 

I also found a pair of torchere gasoliers with the same three light element on top, from the Lissadell sale in 2003. In the link you have to click to the second image at the upper right photo box.
http://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/2003/dec/06/lights-out-–-but-lissadell-sale-on/

And the description on icollector.
http://www.icollector.com/A-PAIR-OF...ca-1835-either-Neapolitan-or-English_i1036491

 

Have not run into that term before, will have to remember it, I'm sure I'll be noticing them everywhere now

torchere gasoliers

 

>...converted colza oil chandelier...<

Good idea! I bet you are right. If originally used colza

"Colza-oil is yielded by rape-seed" like canola oil.

then it would date in the period of late whale oil to kerosene, like possibly early 1800s to the c1850s when kerosene took over. Even if it used colza oil it would still need burners. Colza oil was a relatively heavy thicker type oil. The reservoirs (usually urn shaped) for colza lamps were usually to the side or above allowing for gravity flow. I still think this lamp has important parts missing like the attachments for the burners and a reservoir/font for oil. Note the urn shaped reservoirs/fonts on *top* of the colza chandeliers in the link posed in message #17.

--- Susan