Would like information on oil lamp

I recently got this oil lamp and am having a hard time getting information on it. I have not tried to clean it because I understand that is often a mistake. I believe it is bronze. Initially i planned on wiring some low wattage lights and using it in my garage however a friend said i should try to get information on it before I

 

Can I assume that the piece in the center of the three arms unscrews for access to the interior? It LOOKS like an ancient hanging oil lamp, but I have no idea if the age is correct (it could have been an electrified reproduction, striped out for all I know).

 

Thanks for the information, the piece in the center comes out, not threaded.

 

Ah, threaded would have pointed conclusively to a modern piece..........

 

ya, don't clean that just yet......but do hunt around for any markings the patina could be hiding.
Oil lamp ....looks promising...

 

I love the little heads/faces on the center part.

 

Does it still have an oil smell? Carbon deposits?
Any markings?

 

I lightened one of the photos. I have a lousy photo editor, and I'm not very good at it, but I *think* it's a little easier to see.

 

I'm unenlightened regarding lamps but imho this is an old electric chandelier. Looks like a pair of insulated wires at top of pic of whole item. Wires went thru twisty tube from the wall mount, down into the center hub then to the 3 lamps thru the small tunnels in each branch.

 

I'm not seeing any insulated wire - all I see are support chains, and a long curly looking thing that looks like it hangs from the ceiling thingie (that's all technical talk you know. )

 

My guess ( cant stress guess enough !) is an 18th century copy of an roman lamp,possibly for whale oil ?

 

That's a metal snake coming out of the ceiling bracket to hold the lamp.
It's looks like the 3 ends could have had wicks to draw the oil poured into the center opening.....

 

Edited

Maybe we could get a pic of the center thing with the cover removed. I agree no wires visible now, I was looking at a shadow.

 

as posted by the OP, here is the center opened up

 

In my opinion, due to the position of the face on the mount, this would have been a wall mount, not a ceiling mount - also in keeping with the ancient mode (again, NOT implying conclusively that this is ancient)

 

Thanks for bringing that pic to my attention, missed it. The neat hole halfway down the branch on lower right could potentially point us to the source of energy used in the lamp, think about it.

 

Well, I've looked at this since it was first posted and still haven't a good guess. It is hard for me to visualize what this looks like hung up. As to being hung up, I can't tell from the pics whether it hangs from the ceiling or wall. That snake thing seems more appropriate for a wall light and those chains don't seem long enough and doesn't have a pulley to raise and lower the fixture from the ceiling for lighting and extinguishing the flames. If that middle thing is all there is to hold fuel like oil, it doesn't seem big enough to hold much. If there is suppose to be some sort of light at the ends of the arms, those holes certainly would not hold wicks for there is no way to adjust the wicks and no way to screw or insert any type of burner for oil, whale or fuel lamps. A gas fixture is a possibility, but gas ceiling lamps did not swing, no chains. They were attached to the ceiling by a brass pipe. I would not be surprised if this fixture was missing important parts.

A full length picture of it being held up by the ceiling or wall plate.

--- Susan

 

Yes of course wall mount...that snake must be solid , & far enough out from the wall not to burn the place down !

 

Maybe OP will tell us if the snake thing connecting wall plate to lamp-holder is hollow or solid. My guess was that it was hollow, which was related to the neat hole in that one arm. If it is solid I may just have to pick up my toys and my electric theory and go home!

 

The snake is solid, the entire piece is heavy. There are some holes on the bottom and one is threaded. Am trying to post some more pics, I really appreciate the help, you guys are great