Description:
Wrought iron fat lamp (also known as a crusie or betty lamp) with two pans. The basic shape of the fat lamp changed little from pre-Roman civilizations until the 19th century; generally they are hanging grease-burning lamps with one or two pans (the second, lower pan could catch drippings), and little or no wick support. The lamp was filled with animal fat or oil and a fabric wick lit to illuminate a small area within the house; unfortunately, fat lamps are better known for their smoke than light since they could be extremely sooty and smelly depending on the fat source - beef fat or tallow was preferred. Although made by America blacksmiths, many were imported by American merchants from Birmingham, England. The original data card stated that this lamp was attributed to the Saugus Iron Works, in Saugus, Mass. In 1641, John Wintrop, Jr., the son of the Massachusetts Bay Colony governor, sought English investors to invest in a "Company of Undertakers of the Iron Works in New England." Construction work began in 1643, and the first integrated ironworks in North America was in operation from 1646-1668. However, this attribution cannot be proved.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+0340 |
