This is a rare brass miners lamp, a compact mineral-oil wick lamp used by workers in the late 19th and early 20th century. The curled hook at the back was designed to hang from a miner’s jacket or buttonhole, offering hands-free light while working underground or in low-light industrial spaces.
A wick would have been threaded down the spout, with tallow or mineral oil stored in the base. The hinged lid lifts smoothly and the interior shows the expected aged residue from previous use. It carries a worn maker’s mark to the side, and although difficult to read, it is highly possible that it belongs to one of the Gistered / Gistard-type manufacturers known for producing these lamps in the late Victorian period.
The lamp displays a beautiful aged brass patina throughout and stands as a genuine surviving example of early mining lighting.
Dimensions: 7 x 6 x 4cm
Weight: 48g
A striking piece of early industrial history, perfect for collectors of mining artefacts, antique lighting or brassware.