Posted 10 years ago
VintageMisc
(48 items)
I've had this ship's prism for quite some time, but honestly cannot remember the family member it came from. The smooth, hexagonal face measures 4 1/2" between opposing vertices, and 4 1/8" between opposing sides. The overall height to the tip is 4 1/2". It is quite heavy for it's size, and I'm not sure exactly how old this particular prism is.
What I found out was that for centuries, sailing ships used deck prisms to provide a safe source of natural sunlight to illuminate areas below decks. Before electricity, light below a vessel's deck was provided by candles, oil and kerosene lamps—all dangerous aboard a wooden ship. The deck prism was a clever solution: laid flush into the deck, the glass prism refracted and dispersed natural light into the space below from a small deck opening without weakening the planks or becoming a fire hazard.
In normal usage, the prism hangs below the overhead and disperses the light sideways; the top is flat and installed flush with the deck, becoming part of the deck. A plain flat glass window would just form a single bright spot below—not very useful for general illumination—hence the prismatic shape.
Interesting!
Neat!!!
That is helpful information , I can picture it n my mind but not how much light could actually emanate from it. Maybe some shown at some time were in a painting, picture or a book , or a movie-- Is there is an illustration depicting an example of it? What about the color; would there be a purpose for green? How old do you think it is. Do you display it?
I can only offer the following link to the Charles W. Morgan, the last surviving wooden whaler in the world that had deck prisms:
http://www.glassian.org/Prism/Deck/Charles_W_Morgan/
Unfortunately, I'm leaving tomorrow for a month.
I do display it in a manner, along with other items on a shelf.
this prism looks just like one I purchased new at Restoration Hardware around 1998; it is the same size and has same textured finish.
I received it in 1989, and just put it on a shelf with the other old items from family. As to it's age, I have not clue. But it is definitely older than 1998.
OMG! YOUR LINK is wonderful... Really shows this prism in action. God! I wish I was on that ship!!
Awesome piece.
I've always been reluctant to buy these for fear of repops. I've always wondered if there was a sure fire way to tell the difference between repops and genuine antique prisms.