Antique 1862 Cherub Oil Lamp – Civil War Era Orpen Patent Font with B&B Burner

FOR SALE ☞ Antique 1862 Oil Lamp with Cherub Pedestal Base, Orpen Patent Font & B&B Burner

DESCRIPTION ☞
An exceptional Civil War-era oil lamp assembled from authentic 19th-century components, featuring a charming figural cherub base, faceted glass font, and ornate brass burner. The clear glass reservoir is embossed “Pat. July 29 1862,” referencing Charles N. Orpen’s historic U.S. patent for bracket-style oil fonts — an innovation that allowed kerosene lamps to be mounted onto existing gas fixtures.

In this example, the patented font has been creatively repurposed and mounted to a cast metal pedestal base in the form of a seated cherub, draped in fabric and supporting the reservoir above. The lamp stands atop a black stone base (possibly marble or slate), giving it both elegance and stability.

The burner is marked “B&B MFG Co. Pat. Feb 20 77,” denoting a post-Civil War improvement by Benedict & Burnham of Waterbury, Connecticut — one of America’s most important brass manufacturers. Their 1877 patented burner featured a lift-top design for safer wick access. The clear glass chimney is a perfect fit for the No.2 collar and features a lightly beaded edge.

A striking display piece that reflects the evolution of American lighting in the mid-to-late 1800s. While likely assembled sometime after 1877 using compatible components, the lamp has not been electrified and remains in its original oil-burning form — ideal for collectors or restorers.

DIMENSIONS ☞
Approx. 37 cm tall (14.5 inches)
Base: 9.5 cm x 9.5 cm
Weight: ~1.4 kg (before packaging)

CONDITION ☞
Good antique condition with age-appropriate wear. No cracks or chips in the glass chimney or font. Some surface wear and flaking to the gold-painted cherub figure. Burner turns but is untested; no wick or fuel included. Stone base has scuffing and a visible hole underneath (likely from original mounting hardware). This lamp appears to be an assembled piece using authentic, period-correct parts from different makers. Please review all photos closely before purchasing. Color may differ slightly in real life from how it appears on your screen due to varying monitor settings. Have a question about this item or want to see more photos? Send us a message & we’ll get back to you ASAP!

ABOUT US ☞ Front Street Antiques is located in downtown historic Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada. We are a husband and wife team on the hunt for interesting items that inspire nostalgia and curiosity. As antique enthusiasts, we do our very best to describe any imperfections and quirks, as well as provide a general background on the item; however, we are not yet experts on every item in our store. If you have additional information about an item for us, please send us a message -- we are always grateful to learn more :)

PLEASE NOTE ☞ Item will be carefully packaged up and shipped within 3 business days of sale, often sooner. We combine shipping on multiple items -- please send us a message prior to purchase to give us a heads up & we will be happy to refund the difference upon shipping!

All our listings are considered collectible, retro/vintage (25+ years) or antique (100+ years) and are rarely brand new. The majority of our stock comes from auctions and private collections or estates. Items for sale may display some age related wear and/or minor flaws consistent with the date of manufacture. Photos are included as part of the description. Due to the age and nature of our stock, all items are sold "as is" and final sale unless damaged in transit and covered by insurance.

Items listed on our Etsy store are also available for sale in our physical store location and may sell at any time! Visit us in person to check out our wide variety of stock - 416 Front St. Kaslo, BC

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