During the late 19th and early 20th century houses were lit with candles or oil lamps. The lamps would come in all grades from a cheap utility metal lamp to elaborate silver or gilt lamp with ornate cut and painted globular shades.
 
This lamp would have been used in a humble cottage or for the staff in a large country or town house. This example is quite substantial, made from a thick amber coloured glass stem and reservoir. The centre gilt metal fittings would unscrew to pour the oil into, and a fabric wick would sit in the oil, and then the fittings screwed back into place. There is a sided wheel which is attached to the wick and winds up and down to shorten or lengthen the wick.
 
The glass and the metal are both in very good condition.
 
Dimensions: 50cm high with a base of 12cm diameter