canary yellow (uranium), each square, bulb-form font with four loops, raised on a hexagonal base featuring a compressed knop and flared foot, wafer construction, pewter fine-line collars. Each fitted with a pewter and tin double-tube whale oil burner, extremely unusual slip-over circular shade holder with tri-pod fitter supports, and roughed and cut ball-form shade. Boston & Sandwich Glass Co. and others. 13 1/8" H to top of shade, 10 3/8" H to top of collar, 5 1/4" DOA base. Shades 3" H, 2" D fitter. Circa 1840-1860.
Literature: The McKearins - American Glass, p. 388, pl. 201, fig. 44. Font as B & K II, fig. 2108.
Provenance: Collection of Pat and the late Bret Morey of Griswold, CT.
Catalogue Note: We could locate no examples or information on these extremely rare and unusual shade supports. They are very finely cast and obviously of factory production. It is very rare to find whale oil period lighting with intact period set-ups.
Condition
Excellent condition, fonts undamaged, one with some light interior residue, one example's foot with a small chip to two corners, along with expected minor flakes/roughness to each. Set-ups undamaged except for one shade fitter with a small shallow chip, which does not affect the profile, each fitter with expected minute flakes/roughness.