Offered is a superior example of an 18th to early 19th-century wrought iron double crusie lamp. This "Phoebe" style lamp features two nested hand-forged iron reservoirs. The upper pan holds the fuel and wick, while the larger lower pan serves as a drip catcher.

The craftsmanship is evident in the thick-gauge steel and the hand-hammered texture. It retains its original swivel hanging rod and a sharp, hand-forged "rat-tail" hook, allowing the lamp to be suspended from a mantle, a chair back, or driven directly into a timber beam. The vertical support features a notched adjustment mechanism, allowing the user to tilt the upper reservoir to maximize fuel consumption as the level dropped.

Origin: Likely European (Continental) or Early American

Age: circa 1750–1820

Material: Hand-Forged Wrought Iron / Steel

Dimensions:

• Total Height (extended): 9.5" to top of hook
• Lamp Height: 5" (to top of backplate)
• Length: 4"

Condition: Excellent antique condition. The iron remains structurally sound with no pinholes or "rust-through" in the reservoirs. Features a rich, dark, dry original surface. The swivel and hanging hardware are fully functional.

Authentication & Historical Context:

The "double" design was a significant functional improvement over the standard single crusie. The upper reservoir held the oil (typically fish oil or grease) and the wick, while the lower reservoir acted as a "drip pan" to catch unburned fuel, preventing mess and conserving oil.

Reference:

Flickering Flames: A History of Domestic Lighting through the Ages by Leroy Thwing, Page 43, Plate 21; or similarly, Catherine Thuro’s Oil Lamps: The Kerosene Era in North America, though Thuro primarily focuses on 1860+ glass, she discusses these early predecessors in the introductory chapters on primitive lighting (see Oil Lamps I, Page 12, for early open-flame lighting evolution).

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