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More about Lamps

E2071-0 - Traveling Lamp Back

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Description

Small lamp carved from soapstone. It is crescent shaped in outline, and there is a raised wick ledge with a central division in the bowl of the lamp. On the sides are two incised lines that encircle the lamp. The Smithsonian Institution's catalogue card identifies this as a travelling lamp, includes a comment that this lamp was 'useful only for temporary light, and was carried in the interest of the smokers.'

Information from the Smithsonian

FROM CARD: "OF SOAPSTONE, CRESCENTIC IN SHAPE, BOTTOM NEARLY FLAT, SIDES VERTICAL. THE RESERVOIR IS SHALLOW AND IS DIVIDED INTO TWO PORTIONS BY A CANAL CUT ACROSS THE MIDDLE, AND THE WALL OF THE RESERVOIR IS CONTINUED AROUND THE ENDS, FORMING A NARROW CANAL AT THE END OF THE BRIDGE. THE WICK EDGE IS SLIGHTLY CURVED, AS IS THE RULE IN ALL ESKIMO LAMPS. THIS SMALL LAMP, WHICH IS CALLED A "WINTER TRAVELING LAMP," WAS USEFUL ONLY FOR GIVING A TEMPORARY LIGHT, AND WAS CARRIED IN THE INTEREST OF THE SMOKERS. LENGTH, 5 INCHES, WIDTH, 2 1/8 INCHES; HEIGHT AT FRONT, 1/2 INCH; AT BACK, 3/4 INCH. ILLUS. IN USNM REPT, 1896; P1. 10, FIG. 1; P. 1048."

  • Collection: Macfarlane Collection
  • Catalogue Number: E2071-0
  • Object Type: lamp
  • Materials: soapstone
  • Manufacturing Techniques: carving
  • Tags: domestic

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