Name/Title
LampContext
On the nightstand in the 1855 Bedroom sits an American-made flat-wick oil lamp from c. 1870. It has a square alabaster base with a brass pedestal and spiral stem. It features a glass bowl and a glass fluted chimney with etched leaves, petals, and scalloped line. The fixtures are brass and the wick raiser knob is stamped: "W.B.G. Corp. El Dorado." Little information can be found about this now defunct lamp manufacturer.
The advent of distillation processes in the mid-1800s resulted in safer, cleaner lamp fuels like paraffin oil and kerosene. These innovations made indoor gas lighting widely available, revolutionizing homes, restaurants, theaters, and hotels.
This lamp was given to the Neill-Cochran House Museum by an unknown donor. You can see it, and all of our luminous artifacts, Wed-Sun 11-4pm.
Source: Iowa State University MuseumsAcquisition
Accession
nd.096Source or Donor
UnknownAcquisition Method
Gift