This & That Saga and Serendipity. Memoirs and Musings.Prof. Aloke Kumar
Prof. Aloke Kumar

Victorian lamps and shades were widely used, and usually Victorian lamps were placed on a small side table by the side of each chair in the parlour where people might read, knit, or sew. This gave a bright pool of light in the important spot where it was required for close up work. The piece has clear glass chimney with air drawn from below. Has a larger shade around the chimney of opaque glass to diffuse the light. Like many Victorian lamps of this period, this lamp is based on the simple idea of producing a light by burning a wick in oil. The special features of this lamp is the long glass chimney. These innovations increased the level of illumination tenfold without the equivalent increase in fuel expenditure. The long glass chimney further improves the aeration to the flame by creating an upward draft. The wick soaked up paraffin oil from the base of the lamp by capillary action alone.