A Victorian glass fairy lamp gets a base at last! | ||
| Solved mystery items23 of 11848 |  |  |
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Posted 4 months ago
IronLace
(927 items)
This Victorian Verre Moire satin glass fairy lamp dome has been in my collection for around 20 years, waiting patiently for a suitable base.
Finally located one on eBay UK recently & it arrived today.
Base is made from clear pressed glass & marked S. Clarke Patent Trade Mark Fairy.
Both base & dome made in England, late 19th century.
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very satisfying when you manage to do that ????
Many thanks Bernard, & so true!
I have a few more to go...these bigger bases are harder to find...I've got several spares in the smaller, easier to find size but no domes for them yet...
IronLace, Twenty years! Very cool. :-)
Ya know, every time I think I have trademark/patent databases whupped, The Powers That Be decide to change the way they work, and then I flounder around again. >8-0
I did find a couple of Clarke's patents in eSpacenet dot com, but only one has an image (it sounds like the older patent is for a candle, and not a candle holder):
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?FT=D&date=18980604&DB=en.worldwide.espacenet.com&locale=en_EP&CC=GB&NR=189717997A&KC=A&ND=4#
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?FT=D&date=19080716&DB=en.worldwide.espacenet.com&locale=en_EP&CC=GB&NR=190728495A&KC=A&ND=4#
I actually had better luck finding Clarke's US patents. I won't torture you with the USPTO, as I was able to get Google Patent links that work:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US352296
https://patents.google.com/patent/US383862
https://patents.google.com/patent/US403327
https://patents.google.com/patent/USD18378
Samuel Clarke's 1887 U.S. trademark for "Fairy-Pyramid" brand Lamps, Candle Holders, Candles, and Night Lights:
https://www.loc.gov/item/2020708948/
More about Clarke and fairy lamps:
https://vintageunscripted.com/2023/10/18/fairy-lamps/
http://www.justglass.com/documents/articles/inhouse/fairy.html
https://www.glanmore.ca/en/exhibits-and-programs/the-magic-of-fairy-lamps.aspx
https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co121520/pyramid-food-warmer-invented-by-samuel-clarke-england-1888-1920-food-warmer
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/clarkes-fairy-lights.html?sortBy=relevant
vaseline glass?
Many thanks for the fascinating research, keramikos!
Most of these Clarke fairy lamp bases are marked but this one differs slightly from the other examples I have. The pressed design is a little different, which is possibly the reason why. Samuel Clarke indeed patented the candle first & numerous glass manufacturers produced the candle holders & other paraphenalia to fit them. Bases & domes were often made by different firms, too.
No, no UV glow on this one, kivatinitz, although the pale yellow suggests it.
IronLace, You're very welcome. :-)
I suspect you already knew everything I dug up; I'm mostly educating myself, and anybody else who trips on this post looking for fairy lamp information.
I actually have a few fairy lamps myself; however, none of them are antiques.
Here's a cousin of yours, the color of which is described as "citron":
https://madelena.com/media2/o15573.html
This website is a treasure trove of fairy lamp information:
https://fairylamps.snappages.site/
It has a page of fairy lamp patents, which eventually led me to the Google Patent listing for a near-twin of yours (the base is different):
https://patents.google.com/patent/USD17355S/en
About the Nailsea type glass pattern:
https://glassencyclopedia.com/Nailseaglass.html
https://scottishantiques.com/victorian-table-glass/nailsea-glass-flasks/
About the Nailsea Glassworks (near Bristol, UK):
https://www.nailseatown.com/nailsea-glassworks/