One of a set of three glass and ormulu garniture de cheminée argand lamps with etched glass globes, and rings of crystal prisms.
Argand Lamp, Unknown Maker (American), c. 1820, gilt bronze, brass, and cut glass, Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, Georgia.
CopyrightThe images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextLamps adorned the living spaces of 19th-century homes and allowed for entertainment and other leisure to stretch further into the night. Argand lamps, first patented in 1780 by Swiss physicist and chemist Aimé Argand (1750–1803), became exceedingly popular because of its ability to burn oil brighter than the earlier whale oil lamps and candles. It also burned for longer periods and produced less smoke.