French Neoclassical Kerosene Lamps with Bronze Mounts

A pair of French spelter and bronze kerosene lamps, late 19th…
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A pair of French spelter and bronze kerosene lamps, late 19th century, the neoclassical style cast spelter waisted urn form bases with bronze decorative mounts, twin-handles and collar, all raised on scrolled legs, with electrical conversion, burner mechanism apparently complete, with chimney. Height 80 cm

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  • Spelter - Spelter was the name given to an alloy of zinc and brass or copper used in the 19th century for statuary and lighting. It is a brittle bluish-white metal. It was used as a cheap replacement for bronze, but being brittle easily breaks and can't be repaired. When finished it can often be mistaken for bronze, but if discreet a scratch on the base displays shows a greyish colour, the metal is spelter, if a golden colour the metal is most likely bronze.
  • Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.

    The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.

    It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.

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