Sinumbra Lamp

Place of OriginFrance

Dateabout 1830-1850

Dimensions32 × 11 × 11 in. (81.3 × 27.9 × 27.9 cm)

MediumBlue Opaline glass and gilt brass, with lamp mechanism, and with glass shades, blown, partially frosted, and wheel cut; (replaced) glass chimneys

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Jefferson D. Robinson, by exchange

Object number

2008.141

Not on View

Label TextGeorge Phillips of London invented the Sinumbra lamp in 1812. As its name suggests (derived from the Latin sine—without, and umbra—shadow), it was designed so that the ring-shaped whale-oil reservoir would not cast a shadow when the lamp was lit, as earlier designs had done. In order to be most effective, these lamps had to be quite tall, with a glass shade curving up to a narrow waist. This pair of French Sinumbra lamps is particularly distinguished because of its incorporation of blue opaline glass elements, an extremely unusual detail.Comparative ReferencesSee also Russell, Loris S., "Early Nineteenth-Century Lighting", Building Early America: Contributions toward the History of a Great Industry, The Carpenter's Company of the City and County of Philadelphia, 1976. p. 191-192, fig. 11.9.

Cf. Brown, Sanborn C., "Rumford Lamps", Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 96, (Feb. 29, 1952), pp. 37-44 Cf. Heckschner, Morrison H. et al.,"North America 1700-1900", The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New Series, Vol. 59, No. 2 (Autumn 2001), pp. 48-55.

Cf. Sherman, Mimi, "A Look at Nineteenth-Century Lighting: Lighting Devices from the Merchant's House Museum", APT Bulletin, Vol. 31, No. 1, Lighting Historic House Museums, (2000), pp. 37-43.