Early 19th Century Argand Lamp, Electrified

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The Argand lamp was the premier source of lighting from the time of its invention in the late 1700s up … Read more The Argand lamp was the premier source of lighting from the time of its invention in the late 1700s up until the invention of the kerosene lamp in the mid 1800s. This beautiful example was produced circa 1820 for retail at the high-end New York shop of Baldwin Gardiner, and bears the corresponding stamp above the air intake. This lamp's placement at the top of the market is evident in its smooth solid brass construction, high-quality craftsmanship of every moving part, and delicately hand-blown glass shade. Oil lamps of this quality were treasured and passed down throughout generations, and many were electrified in various ways, some rather destructively with holes drilled up through the bottom. This example appears to have been electrified in the least destructive way possible, with the cord entering from below the shade and the original round brass dial now used as the light switch. This Argand lamp is a treasured piece of history, in museum-quality condition, upgraded for functional use in a modern home; it will never go out of style. See less