Description:
Mushroom-shaped tin whale oil lamp with a brass lip, three wick tubes, and pouring tube on the side above the strap handle. This lamp came from the PVMA collection (number unknown), but may be one of the petticoat lamps listed in the Kitchen donated by Mrs. J.M. Arms Sheldon, Nathaniel Hitchcock and George Sheldon respectively, #109-110 or 112. The manufacture of oil lamps in America, which began in the 1820's, reached its peak in the 1840s and 1850s; they were made in a variety of shapes, and had burners with either one or two wicks for whale oil or "burning fluid." From originally burning lard, fish, and whale oils, the burning fluids for oil lamps later became petroleum (found in 1814, dug from wells), camphene, and kerosene.
Subjects:
Brass Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+64.342 |
