Posted 9 years ago
Krazy4Kosmos
(4 items)
I'm looking for any information someone might know about this lamp. It is 11" tall and looks to have a Kosmos collar with a reducer. I believe the blue portion is pottery of some sort held in place by a brass, bronze or pewter bracketing. It has a brass insert font and an iron base. It looks Edwardian but I certainly could be wrong. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Great lantern it's a pity someone has tried to clean it.
I believe that carefully cleaning a lamp is not only ok but neeeded. I understand that a patina is desirable but the old kerosene that was used was high in paraffin and so a lot of patina is actually built up and polished kerosene wax. It may look nice but underneath it is eating your brass. I am of the school that believes that patina is no excuse for a dirty lamp unless you have a museum piece. It has been a hundred years since some of these lamps have been cleaned and they need it to last another hundred years. Patina will happen anyways. This lamp actually looks like it's been painted with gold enamel in some areas.
Thank you for the lesson I also believe it is in the eye of the beholder but in this case & for such reasons I think you are very wise.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound like I was preaching. I'm new to lamp collecting and that lesson was given to me by someone I respect in the business so it's pretty much verbatim. The wisdom is Miles Stair's not mine. I also agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, although I can't see how anyone could argue with the beauty of these old lamps, all shined up or original. I'm thoroughly hooked!
No problem I didn't take it that way sorry if it sounded as if I did all lessens learnt are good. Have a top day