Oil Lamps

Near the turn of the twentieth century, the mass production of affordable lighting forever changed how we work, play, and live. This tectonic shift is directly related to the availability of cheap petroleum-based oil and the refinement of the kerosene lamp. Author Catherine Thuro devoted years of research to compiling a record of these formerly ubiquitous lighting devices. Oil Lamps is her first masterpiece: a comprehensive, invaluable resource. With over 1,000 lamps shown in detailed studio photographs, clearly reproduced illustrations from catalogues and trade journals, this book is the definitive visual compilation of kerosene lamps and accessories. The clear photography is also matched by detailed and engaging explanations about the origins of lamp styles. Thuro places the kerosene lamp in cultural and historical context, discussing the revolutionary large-scale production of these luminaries, the wide array of raw material used, and the far-reaching consequences of a society literally brought into the light on a massive scale. For both historical and comparative information, this is a must-have reference for collectors.

This book traces the design and evolution of oil lighting, examining in detail the varieties and design features of many of the lamps which were made particularly in the Victorian period. A great many of these lamps still survive today, either converted to electricity or in their original form in antique shops. Whether a collector or antique dealer, this fascinating book is certain to fill gaps in the reader's knowledge of oil lighting.

This informative and stunning book is the capstone in Catherine Thuro's three-part series on oil lamps. Focusing on trimmings, the jaw-dropping variety of models, and likely placement in the home, this book celebrates the convergence of appliance and art in the Kerosene Era.

A survey of imported and domestic kerosene mantle burners and lamps sold in America in the 1896 to 1935 time period. Includes details on patents, burner and lamp construction, selling firms, and the persons and families behind these businesses.

The fourth catalogue in a series that documents the renowned Cesnola Collection of Cypriot Art, this book focuses on the collection’s 453 terracotta oil lamps dating from the Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, and Early Byzantine periods. The rich iconography on many of these common, everyday objects provides a rare look into daily life on Cyprus in antiquity and highlights the island’s participation in Roman artistic and cultural production. Each lamp is illustrated, and the accompanying text addresses typology, decoration, and makers’ marks on each of these objects that provide new insights into art, craft, and trade in the ancient Mediterranean.

Mother Teresa said, "To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it." Most women are so busy filling the lamps of the people they love that they let their own lamps run low. They spend so much time and energy taking care of their children, husbands, aging parents, friends, neighbors, bosses, coworkers, and others, that they often neglect themselves. Awareness is the first step toward solving a problem. So the first section of this book is devoted to helping us acknowledge the problem and understand the reasons for it. Chapter 1 looks at how girls are socialized, growing up to be women who put others first. Chapter 2 examines the values women have adopted in the past 50 years, beginning with the feminist movement - leading us to believe that we can have it all - all at once. And Chapter 3 explores the corresponding myth that we can DO it all.

The diaries of Mary Davis Brown offer a rare glimpse of times past in the rural community of York County, South Carolina, during the nineteenth century, a time when faith in God and the good earth were still the pillars of family life. Born on March 21, 1822, Mary began poignantly recording her thoughts, poetry, prayers, and daily activities in 1854 upon the death of her eight-year-old son. She continued her writings through the Civil War years and until late 1901 when she was almost 80 years old. Fortunately, these diaries have survived for over a century and a half and, because of their delicate condition, now rest in a fireproof, humidity and temperature controlled vault in the South Caroliniana Library on the campus of the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Oil In Our Lamps is the culmination of many years of painstaking effort by the descendants of Mary Davis Brown. Her diaries, more than worthy of publication, can now be enjoyed by modern-time folks who will find them enlightening, enriching, and heart-warming.

This in-depth study of the medieval oil lamps of Kerala and beyond considers these art objects as primary sources for a broader discussion on the ritual use of Hindu oil lamps, their related and unique cultural history, their motifs, style and subject matter. From an understudied region, many of the pieces presented are previously unpublished.

The ceramic oil lamps in this collection once burned in the Holy Land, lit by the oil of its abundant olive trees and conceived by the imagination of its early inhabitants. The lamps' symbols, designs, shape and decorations allow us to learn about the time and place they were made, and the culture and standard of living of those who used them.

The anticipated follow-up to Catherine Thuro's first volume on early lighting, Oil Lamps II: Glass Kerosene Lamps focuses specifically on cased glass, colored glass, and composite lamps that are hallmarks of the golden age of kerosene lighting. More than two hundred photographs showcase the extraordinary craftsmanship and artistic design that distinguish these illuminates. This is a visually delightful collection of beautiful and rare kerosene lamps and is sure to impress both the avid collector and novice alike. Author Catherine Thuro's years of extensive research is reflected in this comprehensive second volume in the three-part series. The complete set is considered to be required reading for those in the field of early lighting. The vast catalogue of manufacturer information and user-friendly pricing chart make Oil Lamps IIa necessary addition to the library of all collectors and appraisers.