Italian, Venice
Lamp with Tools, 17th century - 18th century
Brass, 63.5 cm (25 in.)
This is an Italian brass oil lamp. The circular flat base sits on four small, rounded feet. The bottom half of the lamp, or pedestal, has several decorative circular rings of varying width upon which a wider, four-spouted oil font sits with two circular rings above. Above this, the top half of the lamp is an unadorned brass pole finished by a circular shape with a bird-like head and a long, looped snake-like body. Where the top brass pole and the center font meet, four thin chains hang downward, each falling between the four spouts and suspending a tool for the operation of the lamp.
Vatichino
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.