Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG) kerosene oil lamp in what appears to be the Hamilton (aka Cape Cod) pattern, made in America by the Cape Cod Glass Company circa 1860. Measures 8-3/4″ tall. Round 3 tier base of polished wood replaces the original glass base, broken many years ago and replaced in first quarter of the 20th century.
This simple, hand blown glass whale oil lamp was made in America in the early 19th century. Though no longer functional as a lamp, it now makes for an interesting vase. A true make-do, it started out life as one thing and as the result of an accident, was reborn as something entirely different.
Whale oil was the preferred source of lighting in the early 1800′s, and was also used for making soap, textiles, jute, varnish, explosives and paint. It fell out of favor in the mid-late 1800′s as a result of the development of kerosene oil in 1846.
Illustration courtesy of Curious Expeditions
Lamp/vase measures 6-1/4″ tall and the base is 3″ square. The original brass collar and burner went missing long ago.
It is not unusual to find oil lamps with replaced bases, as they were one of the most used household items in the 19th century. This unusually elaborate replacement base is made of wood and covered in gessoed relief flowers, with a floret at each corner.
This complete lamp shows what the base on my lamp might have looked like.
Photo courtesy of Comollo Antiques
The person who repaired this 7″ tall EAPG (Early American Pattern Glass) oil lamp in the “Sawtooth” pattern threw caution to the wind and developed their own whimsical pyramid base, which bares no resemblance at all to the original glass base
This joint is where the lamp attaches to the painted base, showing “alligator” finish red line detailing
The overscaled base measures 7″ square
The remains of the heavily sawtoothed stem are visible from the underside of the base
This identical lamp, fully intact, reveals how much is actually missing from my lamp
Photo courtesy of iOffer
Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG) whale oil lamp in the “Early Moon & Star” pattern, aka “Old Moon & Star” and “Star & Dot” with brass ferrule collar, measures 8″ high
After the original glass base snapped off, a tinsmith created a simple conical form replacement base
The lamp below has a similarly shaped oil font and stands on a metal connector stem and marble base
Photo courtesy of Antique Investments
This American pressed glass oil lamp with tri-mold marks measures 7-1/2″ high and has a classic gadrooned body design. It is not uncommon to find glass oil lamps with replacement bases, as these were handled often over the course of each day and accidents did happen. Please check out my other oil lamps to see replacement bases created in various styles and made from an array of materials
A wood replacement base with silver gilt surface was probably made in the 1920′s-30′s, as is evident from its “art deco” look
The oil lamp below with a similar shape still has its original glass base, a lucky survivor of over 100 years of use
Photo courtesy of Antique Mystique
This unusual early American lard oil lamp is made of tin and measures 14″ tall
A woven wick would have protruded from the tilted font at the right, keeping the wick immersed in oil
The original tin base would have been much shorter than this wood replacement, made from a later electric lamp
This lamp has its original base intact
Photo courtesy of Knotty Pine Antiques
An EAPG (Early American Pressed Glass) kerosene oil lamp in the “Loop” pattern, made of flint glass with finger loop and brass ferrule.
The round glass base was replaced with an unusually shaped square replacement, beautifully made.
This is what the lamp looked like with its original base, burner, wick and chimney
Photo courtesy of LennyFran
This pressed glass whale oil lamp in the “Sawtooth Diamond” pattern measures 9-3/4″ high. It has a brass collar and was made of flint glass, most likely in New England in the mid 1800′s.
Mass produced molded pressed glass was made to look like more expensive, hand made cut glass.
Most likely, an itinerant tinsmith or tinker in the late 1800′s fashioned a round base to repair the broken lamp and make it usable again.
The oil lamp pictured below in the “Excelsior Variant” pattern shows what the original base on my lamp might have looked like.
Photo courtesy of Brey Antiques
I love this American “machine age” metal lamp, found at a newly opened antiques shop in upstate NY. It sits on a side table in my bedroom and is one of the few pieces from my collection that I use often. The lamp dates from the late 1920′s and measures 18″ tall. The coffee tin with key wind lid is dated 1938.
A truly inventive solution to recycling a discarded coffee can and replacing a damaged lampshade all at once.
The pierced top of the “shade” allows the heat from the bulb to escape, as well as cast a lovely pattern on the ceiling.
This “Sweetheart” pattern oil lamp was made by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Co., Cape Cod Glassworks, and by other manufacturers in and around the town of Sandwich, Massachusetts. I have come across dozens of oil lamps with inventive repairs, as they were used daily, often moved, and frequently broke.
The conical tin base, made by a tinsmith, replaced the original glass base and has been filled with weights to ensure the lamp does not fall over and break again. Lamp stands 9-1/4″ high.
This is what the complete lamp looks like with its original, more ornate base intact.
Photo courtesy of Pavilion Gallery
