Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Does anyone know what this is?


Several weeks ago, my youngest dug the bottom half of it out of the dene. He had retrieved the top half a few years ago. They are a perfect match. We are stumped as to its original purpose. it had been holding the bank up by the stream...

Several members of the RWA Northumberland thought it might be an oil lamp cira the late 1890's. I am inclined to agree.

But any and all suggestions welcome. The glass is about an inch thick and there used to be stripes painted on it. There is a metal screw on the top. Altogether it is about 18 inches high.

3 comments:

Carol Townend said...

Hi Michelle,
I wonder if it could be a wierd sort of lamp for going outside a barber's shop? The stripes made me think of that. Or an old glass container in a pharmacy that was filled with some exotic liquid. The mind is boggling!

Nicola Cornick said...

I've no idea, Michelle, but i think it looks great! I love digging up stuff like that and then speculating about its past history!

Louise Allen said...

It is a soda syphon, Michelle. Have a look at http://bit.ly/bU3pV9 and you'll see one complete with the wire mesh that has marked this.