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c. 1780 Forged Iron 4-Spout Tabletop Grease Lamp

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:350.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 500.00 USD
c. 1780 Forged Iron 4-Spout Tabletop Grease Lamp
Colonial America

18th Century Forged Iron 4-Spout Tabletop Grease Lamp

c. 1780 Colonial & Revolutionary War Era, Hand-Forged Iron, 4-Spout, 13" High x 7" Wide, Tabletop Grease Lamp, Fine.

This is an original example of early Colonial New England lighting, similar to those illustrated in numerous books on the topic. It is circa 1780 or so, as a rounded base “Crown” form was used to create this scarce design, used as a tabletop lighting device. It is completely hand-forged, blacksmith made, the maker took a wonderful approach in the construction of this example, overlapping iron bands on the four cornered copper reservoir pan. For use, the pan would have been filled with a variety of lighting fuels, more commonly of the era grease or lard would have been utilized as it was more readily available and more cost efficient than cleaner burning fluids such as whale oil. With fuel in place a simple wick (be it turned cloth or rush) would have rested on one of the corners of the pan.
While it would have certainly been having needed to be refueled more often, this example varies in the four-wick design would have made for a masterful piece of illumination. There is expected natural age, there is some slight pitting and an even overall oxidation patina to the surface. One of the rivets holding the pan to the iron base platform appears to be loose, though overall the lamp is still in very good working condition and a is fine example of this highly unusual design for display.