Description:
Wrought iron fat lamp (also known as a crusie or betty lamp) with two pans and a pick or trammel. 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 could catch drippings), and little or no wick support. The pans were filled with animal fat or oil and the fabric wick lit to illuminate a small area within the house. Although this lamp's two reservoirs for oil/fat would have given off more light, oil 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 lamp has two reservoirs hung one above each other, which are both teardrop-shaped; the lower reservoir has a flange from which a hook extends to hold the upper reservoir. The lamp has a long hanging pick or trammel with a forked end that is attached to the main body of the lamp by a hook and ball.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+1998.36.5 |
