The very attractive hanging lantern, being just under four feet high and having an octagonal tapering body surmounted by stylised trefoil crosses and a semi-spherical crown, with a beautifully aged natural verdigris finish, the whole with spiral twist supports and a swing door hatch to one panel, terminating in an integral hanging loop and surviving in scintillatingly original condition from high Victorian England.
Unknown.
Experiments in Europe and America, after 1750, helped to improve the lamp, and when whale oil became plentiful in the early 1800’s, lamps became as common as candles. This particular lantern would have hung outdoors, powered by gas to illuminate a porch or entrance hall of a large Gothic country house or as part of a street set up. This example is also superior to many others of the type as its upper section is also glazed rather than just solely the bottom one.
“A man who remains any length of time in a modern Gothic room, and escapes without being wounded by some minutiae, may consider himself extremely fortunate’”;
Augustus W. N. Pugin.
With the imposing size and beautiful finish this glass cathedral of a lantern would make a huge statement in the right setting. Stunning.
The lantern is in good condition with the piece in stable structural order with no losses. The whole has a simply wonderful, aged patination to the unpolished and uncleaned surface as per the photographs and is totally untouched. There are the odd misshapen bend here and there to the copper. It can easily be converted to electricity which we can do if so desired.
By appointment only.
