Sheet-Iron Grease Lamp
American, 19th century
8 ½ x 5 ½ inches

During the 19th century, sheet-iron coated with tin was the dominant material for a range of household items. Tin was lightweight, inexpensive, easy to clean, nontoxic and durable. Sheet-iron housewares quickly replace those made of earlier materials—cast iron, wrought iron, wood, pewter and pottery. 

Tinned sheet iron was primarily imported from Germany and Wales; it arrived by ship and was subsequently transported by middlemen to tinsmiths. Lighting devices represented only a fraction of the tinsmith’s production, which also included coffee pots, kettles, cans, pails, and eventually stove pipes and ceilings.

This is a fine example of a footed lamp with saucer base and gimbal mount cylinder-form reservoir with single wick channel.

$320