posted on February 14, 2004 10:29:54 AM new
Short version:
I am asking for help identifying three miniature oil lamps. If you are not interested in oil lamps or are a member of the "Don't ask for help. Find it yourself." contingent I apologize for the inconvenience.
Long version:
After a lot of searching and reading of vintage glass sites as well as several sites on miniature oil lamps I have come here to ask for help with these lamps. I remember in earlier threads some of the Outlook posters were very knowledgeable about oil lamps. The height of the glass to the bottom of the metal cap is between 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 on all of them.
The three little lamps belonged to my husband's grandmother. I feel sure that the glass is old because she built her collection in the 40s and 50s from what she called "second handed shops". Based on my reading of on-line vintage glass sites I have several questions:
All the oil burners are marked "ABCO NUTMEG" although there are some differences in them. I find replacement burners identified as NUTMEG. Does this mean mine are replacements or can old burners be called the same?
I find very similar lamps with this kind of glass chimney. Some are listed (even on the same site) as "base only", some as "replacement chimney", and some as "original chimney". I see that those with matching glass shades are priced higher. Is there anyway to know if the chimney is original or if the lamp had a shade?
* On several sites I found reference to "shaker conversions" which are salt shakers that have been converted to oil lamps. One site warns buyers not to pay "oil lamp prices" for converted shakers. There are references to the presence of cement under the screw top as proof that it was an oil lamp. On both of the blue ones a metal screw top is fastened to the glass with some kind of adhesive and the oil burner screws into that. On the pink cased one the entire metal top is one piece and screws off. Does this likely mean that the pink is a conversion and the two blues are not?
I am considering putting them on my sister's web site rather than eBay because when I search completed auctions for miniature oil lamps I find a very confusing array of prices and descriptions. Can anyone who sells oil lamps tell me is this would be wise?
Thanks for any assistance you can give me.
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The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
