Lamp
MakerLamp base made by
Wannopee Pottery Company
(American, 1892 - 1903)
MakerKerosene holder made by
Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company
(American, 1875 - 1940)
MakerElectrical socket made by
Leviton
(American)
MakerElectrical chord made by
Eagle
(American)
Date1892-1903
MediumLamp base (.a): Mold-formed whiteware with a mottled light brown, dark brown, and green glaze.
Kerosene Holder (.b): Stamped steel.
Insertable Electric Socket (.c): Steel, stamped brass, plastic, and cardboard.
Electrical Chord (.d): Rubber, copper wire, plastic, and metal.
DimensionsComponent (height x diameter of lamp base .a): 11 x 11in. (27.9 x 27.9cm)
Component (height x diameter of kerosene holder .b): 7 x 5 1/8in. (17.8 x 13cm)
Component (length of insertable electrical socket .c): 14in. (35.6cm)
ClassificationsCeramics
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1989.40.0a-d
DescriptionRound lamp base of whiteware with a mottled light brown, dark brown, and green glaze, a type of ceramic made by the Wannopee Pottery Company called "Duchess ware". The lamp base is accompanied by a kerosene holder (.b), insertible electric socket (.c), and electrical chord (.d).
Lamp base (.a): The lamp base is eleven inches tall and sits on a round foot. The lamp has a globular base for seven of those eleven inches. Then the top four inches of the base are cylindrical. The base is decorated with raised motifs. Around the neck, just below the rim, are a continuous row of circles, formed from two half circles. There are four raised decorations on the sides of the spherical portion of the base. These consist of naturalistic branches of leaves, small flowers, and berries on a stem. A multi-colored, mottled brown and green glaze has been applied over the ceramic. The bottom of the base has a clear glaze only, revealing the white ceramic beneath. Just outside the foot of the base, twenty-five holes have been punched into the ceramic. This was done at the time of manufacture.
Kerosene holder (.b): The kerosene holder consists of a cylindrical drum, intended to hold the kerosene, with a decorated top surface and another cylindrical protrusion in the center. This consists of a pierced ring and four supports for a cylindrical glass chimney (now missing). On the horizontal surface between the drum and the cylinder, the manufacturer made a repeating raised decoration consisting of pointed arches, circles, and oval panels. At one point, this is interrupted by a round cartouche surrounded by raised leaves. Inside the cartouche are the raised letters "THE/ B&H". Opposite this is a small, round, flat, textured cap that screws into the drum. The intials "B. & H." are in raised letters on top of the cap. Between these two areas, to one side, is a small, cylindrical piece of hollow metal. A straight stick, with a ball sticking out at a ninety degree angle at the end, emerges from the cylindrical metal. A cylindrical portion of the center of the kerosene holder is hollow and lined with metal, 1 3/8 inches in diameter. This was probably a later change to accommodate the insertible electric socket.
Insertible electric socket (.c): The electric socket is made up of a metal pole with an electrical socket at one end. The socket has a mechanism consisting of a black plastic rod that one presses to turn the light on and off. The socket itself is stamped with the following maker's mark, "LEVITON/ MADE IN U.S.A./ 660W. 250V." and "PRESS". Below the socket, around the metal pole, a cylindrical metal piece covers the central pole; this was intended to stick out above the kerosene holder. Several small rings of various materials are also screwed onto the pole; these were intended to stabilize the various parts of the electric socket on the kerosene holder.
Electrical Chord (.d): Long, brown, electrical chord consisting of twisted copper wires coated in brown rubber. At one end of the chord, the rubber ends and the twisted wire are exposted. A brown plastic and metal electric socket is located at the other end. Both metal prongs are impressed with the letters "UL" surrounded by a circle. A rectangular, brown plastic switch is located in the middle of the chord. It operates by flipping a small plastic switch back and forth through the rectangular case. Both sides of the plastic switch are impressed with the following words "EAGLE/ U.S.A.", and, "UND. LAB. INC. LIST.", and, "PAT. NO. 2,743,330", and, 10A-120VAC".
The inside of the lamp base suggests that this was used as a planter at one time. There is a thin layer of dirt adhered to the inside bottom of the base, as well as an old spider web or two. The kerosene holder may have a light coating of corrosion.
At one time, the electrical socket had two strips of packing tape adhered to the outside of the pole and cylindrical portions. These have since been removed, although residue remains.
Lamp base (.a): The lamp base is eleven inches tall and sits on a round foot. The lamp has a globular base for seven of those eleven inches. Then the top four inches of the base are cylindrical. The base is decorated with raised motifs. Around the neck, just below the rim, are a continuous row of circles, formed from two half circles. There are four raised decorations on the sides of the spherical portion of the base. These consist of naturalistic branches of leaves, small flowers, and berries on a stem. A multi-colored, mottled brown and green glaze has been applied over the ceramic. The bottom of the base has a clear glaze only, revealing the white ceramic beneath. Just outside the foot of the base, twenty-five holes have been punched into the ceramic. This was done at the time of manufacture.
Kerosene holder (.b): The kerosene holder consists of a cylindrical drum, intended to hold the kerosene, with a decorated top surface and another cylindrical protrusion in the center. This consists of a pierced ring and four supports for a cylindrical glass chimney (now missing). On the horizontal surface between the drum and the cylinder, the manufacturer made a repeating raised decoration consisting of pointed arches, circles, and oval panels. At one point, this is interrupted by a round cartouche surrounded by raised leaves. Inside the cartouche are the raised letters "THE/ B&H". Opposite this is a small, round, flat, textured cap that screws into the drum. The intials "B. & H." are in raised letters on top of the cap. Between these two areas, to one side, is a small, cylindrical piece of hollow metal. A straight stick, with a ball sticking out at a ninety degree angle at the end, emerges from the cylindrical metal. A cylindrical portion of the center of the kerosene holder is hollow and lined with metal, 1 3/8 inches in diameter. This was probably a later change to accommodate the insertible electric socket.
Insertible electric socket (.c): The electric socket is made up of a metal pole with an electrical socket at one end. The socket has a mechanism consisting of a black plastic rod that one presses to turn the light on and off. The socket itself is stamped with the following maker's mark, "LEVITON/ MADE IN U.S.A./ 660W. 250V." and "PRESS". Below the socket, around the metal pole, a cylindrical metal piece covers the central pole; this was intended to stick out above the kerosene holder. Several small rings of various materials are also screwed onto the pole; these were intended to stabilize the various parts of the electric socket on the kerosene holder.
Electrical Chord (.d): Long, brown, electrical chord consisting of twisted copper wires coated in brown rubber. At one end of the chord, the rubber ends and the twisted wire are exposted. A brown plastic and metal electric socket is located at the other end. Both metal prongs are impressed with the letters "UL" surrounded by a circle. A rectangular, brown plastic switch is located in the middle of the chord. It operates by flipping a small plastic switch back and forth through the rectangular case. Both sides of the plastic switch are impressed with the following words "EAGLE/ U.S.A.", and, "UND. LAB. INC. LIST.", and, "PAT. NO. 2,743,330", and, 10A-120VAC".
The inside of the lamp base suggests that this was used as a planter at one time. There is a thin layer of dirt adhered to the inside bottom of the base, as well as an old spider web or two. The kerosene holder may have a light coating of corrosion.
At one time, the electrical socket had two strips of packing tape adhered to the outside of the pole and cylindrical portions. These have since been removed, although residue remains.
Status
Not on view
