SCARCE Antique Blue Opalescent SNOWFLAKE Miniature Oil Hand/Finger Lamp S1-40

SCARCE Antique (Over 135 years old) Blue Opalescent Finger or Hand Lamp, S1-40. Shown as a full-sized "hand" lamp in Thuro and as a miniature lamp on page 51 in Figure 40 of Smith's "Miniature Lamps".

Pattern misidentified as "Spanish Lace" by Smith. Rated as being "scarce" by Hulsebus in her 2006 "Price Guide for Miniature Lamps". Made by Hobbs, Brockunier & Co, Ca. Found in clear, blue (like this example) and cranberry opalescent glass. Manufactured using Hobbs's patented process for producing opalescent glass.

As seen in the last photo, this blue glass fluoresces strongly when viewed under black light. The lamp has a patent dated "Taplin-Brown" collar and a size "0" Scovill "Queen Anne" prong & hinge burner. Lamp comes with a fancy ribbed swirl, partially frosted/partially clear, glass chimney with an outward flaring and scalloped top edge. The lamp, its hardware and its glass chimney are all in excellent condition with no discernible damage or defects. Measures about 9 3/4" tall to top of chimney, about 3 1/2" tall to top of collar. Base is about 4" square and about 5 1/2" wide including finger handle. With its unusual chimney, this is an especially attractive example of a hard-to-fine antique opalescent hand lamp.

---