Posted 13 years ago
Squeaker
(6 items)
This Chandelier is HUGE. 30" at it's widest, almost 20" tall and weighs almost 40 lbs.
The gold in the slag just shimmers when lit. I really don't understand how the gas works used to go inside......but it is also very heavy and the same solid brass as the rest of the light. In picture 2 you can see how heavy the brass work is and beautifully designed.
The gas part stands 12" high. I've had this for about 18 years now. Can't get any info on it. There is no visible signature, but an appraiser told me once that when they converted it, and had to put that wide band on the inside to support the electric lights, they may have covered the signature. Very high quality piece. I'm going to add another item (same chandelier) and add more photos. Any help would be appreciated.
Here is what I think you have. It is a circa 1900 combination gas/electric fixture. The electric socket spider looks to be original to the piece. It's hard to tell from the photos, but I think the gas fitter's top pipe would go up through the electric spider, through to the top of the lamp and attach to a gas pipe coming from the ceiling.
I just noticed your in Southern California. If you ever get up to Ventura, you might look up Sherlocks Antique Lighting. He could probably tell you exactly what you have and how it go's together. He's been doing lighting restoration for 30 years. Many years ago I saw something similar in his store.
I bought this in the Channel Islands Region on my way home from a trip down the coast. Is that near Ventura?
Thanks
Also....I'm trying to get a handle on what you're saying. Would the shade still be in the same position (hanging down) when the gas was still attached to it? What makes the heat from the gas NOT crack the glass?
Yes Channel Islands is within 5 miles of Ventura. Yes again, the fixture would hang down as shown, you would take the the brass bell you have sitting on the gas fixture off. This would leave the gas pipe exposed. I am not sure whats holding the electric spider in place now, but that would be removed and the gas pipe would go through there and hold the fixture together. This is really hard to explain from pictures, especially with in two different posts.
The other thing that needs to be determined is wether this i natural gas or carbide. The size of the flame with a gas fixture would not put off that much heat. Almost all gas fixtures had glass shades. Finally if it was mine I would keep it as it is now, and just use it as a electric fixture. But keep all the gas parts, in case someone wants to restore it to a combination fixture.