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Whale Oil Lamp

Dateabout 1850

MediumSpun Britannia

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width including handle x depth): 3 3/4 x 3 5/8 x 2 7/8in. (9.5 x 9.2 x 7.3cm)

Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection

DescriptionSpun Britannia whale oil lamp consisting of a bell-shaped font, or reservoir. A disc is soldered to the round opening at the top of the font. The center of the disc is recessed and pierced with one hole containing a narrow tube that extends down into the font. An additional hole is pierced through the edge of the disc; the edge is also decorated with a band of slanted, incised lines. A pair of incised lines circle the font at the shoulder. The base of the font has projecting molding. At one side, a round handle is soldered to the side of the font. The lamp is lightly tarnished, and the base has many small dents.

Object number1950.383.0

MarkingsThe underside of the lamp has the stamped, semi-circular mark of "FULLER & SMITH".InscribedThe number "A499" is hand-written in pencil on the underside of the lamp.

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