French Art Deco, Porcelain Electric Perfume Lamp, circa 1920s

Details

Description

This unusual porcelain electric perfume lamp depicts a concubine on an elephant, and probably was part of a boudoir decor … Read more This unusual porcelain electric perfume lamp depicts a concubine on an elephant, and probably was part of a boudoir decor of some sophisticated Parisian lady during the Art Deco era. Unmarked.

Dimensions:
Height 7-1/4 inches
Width 3-7/8 inches
Depth 6-1/2 inches

Perfume/fragrance lamps
In the unsanitary world of the 18th and 19th century, bad smells were everywhere. There was no garbage pickup, no indoor flushing toilets and no refrigeration to keep food from spoiling. In the 1800s, a special lamp was used to remove the strong odors in hospitals and mortuaries. It was a catalytic lamp that burned an alcohol-based fuel. A cotton wick burned for a few minutes to heat a stone. After the flame was out, the heated stone turned odors into carbon dioxide and water. In 1897, a Frenchman improved the lamp by adding perfume to the fuel to make a scented room. Many lamps were made in figural shapes suitable for a living room or bedroom. In the Art Deco era, perfume lamps began to heat with electricity. See less