Pewter

Antique American Pewter Oil-Burning Lamp
  • I recently bought some nice pieces from a collection of American pewter.  Here is an lard or lard oil burning lamp with a footed base and egg-shaped body.  It is identified as lard or lard oil burning by the wide, narrow wick holder for a flat wick.  See Thiwing, Leroy, Flickering Flames: A History of Domestic Lighting through the Age, Charles E. Tuttle Co., Vermont, plate 44 & pps. 55-58. The lamp stands 6 1/2" tall, including the burner.  Bottom diameter is 4 1/2".  The burner has been cleaned so that you can barely see remnants of the brass which was over the remaining tin.  No markings.  A few light dents around the bottom of the foot.  Sawtooth beading around the belly of the egg and the edge of the burner screw top.  It has been polished in the last few decades so it has a very light (not too bright) patina.  The collector scratched "8/" and "V" or "X" underneath the foot.  Circa mid-19th century.

    (#5437)     $200