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Tiffany Kerosene Table Lamps

By Larry LeMasters

Kerosene lamps, also known as paraffin lamps, are a type In the late 1800s, Tiffany
of lighting device that uses kerosene for fuel. Kerosene & Company began making
lamps use a burning wick or mantle as their light source, kerosene table lamps for homes
protected by a glass globe or chimney and are one step in and offices. Like everything that
the evolutionary stages of ancient oil lamps. Charles Lewis Tiffany’s company
A Persian alchemist, al-Razi, in the 9th century produced, these lamps are
in Baghdad, first used oil lamps, using a highly collectible today and
crude mineral oil. The lamp was called a bring an enormous price at
“naffatah” in al-Razi’s Book of Secrets auction.
and was considered a magical source Most of Tiffany’s kerosene
of lighting. lamps were a combination of
In the late 1700s and early bronze and glass. The ponderous
1800s, whale oil was used, almost base on the lamp
exclusively, as a fuel source for served to stabilize Early
lamps. Abraham Pineo Gesner, in the lamp (kerosene kerosene table
1846, invented a modern substitute for whale lamps were a lamp; sold
oil by distilling oil from coal. This early fire hazard, at 2017
man-made fuel was called kerosene. And especially Sotheby’s Auction in for $237,500
Polish inventor Ignacy Lukasiewicz ones that
made modern advancements and were top heavy and tipped over easily) and
improvements on kerosene lamps in served as a reservoir for fuel.
Tiffany kerosene 1853. Tiffany catalogs of the late 1890s call their
table lamp that Kerosene lamps were widely used kerosene lamps “decorative” lamps, and they were
sold at Sotheby’s throughout all of America prior to the invention priced, in the 1890s, around $150, which was a
in 2015 for and distribution of electricity and the electric light. small fortune then. Today, though, antique Tiffany
$23,750 However, in rural areas and third-world nations, kerosene lamps sell for a large fortune. Most sell in
kerosene lamps are still used today, consuming an the $100,000 range and the price on some exceeds a
estimated 77 billion liters of fuel per year, which quarter of a million dollars.
is higher than all of the United States jet-fuel
consumption (76 billion liters) used in one year. ←Beautiful, bronze kerosene lamp by Tiffany Studios.

COLLECTION HEADLINE SARASOTA ESTATE AUCTION’S JAN. 23, 2021 SALE
Vitadini the world-famous Designer and retailer will feature pieces of her home décor and accessories
By Tom O’Hara

Sarasota, FL— Andrew Ford and his dedicated crew at Sarasota Estate include: Jon Corbino: Joan Miro: Daniel Authouart: David Burliuk: Dorothy
Auction after finishing their very successful November sale are already Eugenie Brett: Mabel May Woodward: Hayley Lever: Joe Selby: Howard Russell
working on the next auction, January 23-24, 2021. Following the Butler: Hildegarde Hume Hamilton: Ben Galos: Hector
precedent set in November the January sale will again feature rare and Moncayo: H. Khai: Alex Katz: Itzchak Tarkay: Frederick
highly prized art and antiques from collectors that are attracted to Ford’s Remington and many more.
success in finding new collectors for these works. It is headlined by the Jon Corbino [1904-1964] is considered an American
Collection of Adrienne Vittadini and also a rare collection of eight Tiffany artist although born I n Italy as he was trained here
Studios lamps. and his work was popular here in his lifetime. His
Adrienne Vittadini has been one of the most prominent designers of work is highly regarded for the polo scenes and
the last 40 years, with personal articles for ladies’ fashions and home other live and animated subjects. Joan Miro [1893-
décor. Her work has adorned front covers and pages of Veranda, Town 1983], Spain, earned acclaim for his work interpreted
& Country and many more of the most important fashion and design as Surrealism but with a personal style, sometimes
publications. Spending a large part of the year in Sarasota and the rest in also veering into Fauvism and Expressionism. The sale
Southampton, N.Y. she and her husband Gigi are reducing their collections will offer a numbered litho “Miro.”
thru Sarasota Estate Auction’s January sale. The collection was gathered Miro, a litho by the artist Silver and fine jewelry have become a standard at
at press time for this issue of Antique Shoppe so look for more about the Joan Miro. Sarasota Estate Auction’s sales. This upcoming sale
offerings in the next issue or online. will feature a 950 Sterling Silver Tea Set, Mexican, by
Tiffany Studios lamps, a collection Prieto and Bulgari necklace from Monete Collection.
of eight pieces from the famous and The full catalog will be online by January 8,2021 with more
coveted New York maker will create details of all to be offered. Saturday and Sunday, January
great international interest in the sale. 23-24 this 1,400 lot auction will be online, with left bids and
Liquidating a former New Yorker’s phone bidding, 941 359 8700; website is
collection of the highly prized circa 1900 www.sarasotaestateauction.com.
lighting designed by Lewis Comfort The Gallery is open for previews
Tiffany and manufactured at his New at, 522 S. Pineapple, Sarasota, FL.
York City studios are the electric lamps
all from an Irvington, N.Y. home. This Among the Tiffany Studios lamps in the sale
collection also included a tall case Tiffany Desk, by William will be a favrile glass and bronze desk lamp.
signed clock in excellent working order. King came from New England Jon Corbino’s work is one of his
Art work from listed artists will in the late 1700’s and sold in
2002 for $28,560. most popular subjects, a polo contest.