Up for sale is a very rare early 19th century antique pewter lamp fitted with a Samuel Rust patented flat-wick lard burner (most burners are tin or brass with very few surviving pewter examples). Originated in colonial America and Europe as simple, portable oil or fat-burning lights for household use, often hung on a peg or carried by the handle. This example features the distinctive Rust burner, which was an innovative design for the era. Recent comparisons on similar marked examples have sold for $400–$500—priced to move!

Item Specifics:

• Material: Solid pewter (a tin-based alloy common for 19th-century lighting due to its affordability and durability compared to silver or brass).

• Design and Components:

• The body is a classic oval or pear-shaped reservoir for holding whale oil, lard (rendered animal fat), or tallow, with a hinged bail handle (the curved wire loop for hanging or carrying) and a small spout or lip for pouring fuel.

• The burner is a flat-wick type, elevated on a collar that screws or fits into the reservoir's font (top opening). It includes a wick tube, thumbwheel lever for raising/lowering the flat wick, and perforated elements for even fuel distribution and combustion.

• Inscription: Embossed in raised lettering on the burner's collar/base: "S. Rust's Patent New York." This is crisp but shows light wear and patina.

• Finish: Aged pewter with a dark, mottled gray patina from oxidation; minor dents, scratches, and surface pitting consistent with age and use. No cracks, breaks, or active corrosion visible. The wick mechanism appears functional but may need lubrication or a new wick for testing.

• Condition: Good antique condition for a 180+ year-old item. Patina is attractive and even; handle is intact and functional; burner in excellent condition. Not restored or electrified—original to the period.

Age and Origin

• Date: Circa 1835-1846 (peak production period for Rust's designs). Samuel Rust, a New York City inventor and lamp maker, received multiple U.S. patents between 1834 and 1846 for lamp burners (e.g., Patent No. 8,402 in 1834 for a lard-burning wick raiser, and others up to 1846 for improved flat-wick mechanisms). This burner matches his patented "ribbon wick" or flat-wick designs, which allowed for cleaner, more efficient burning of inexpensive fuels like lard, reducing soot and flare-ups compared to earlier tubular wicks.

• Origin: Manufactured in New York City by Samuel Rust or under his license. Rust operated a workshop there in the 1830s-1840s, producing burners sold separately or fitted to lamps by makers like Roswell Gleason (Salem, MA) or others. Pewter versions were common for middle-class households, as full silver was too costly.

Usage and Historical Context

• Primary Use: Portable household lighting before widespread kerosene or gas lamps. The flat wick burned whale oil (sperm or common variety) or lard slowly and steadily, providing 2-4 hours of light per fill. Ideal for reading, sewing, or nighttime tasks in pre-electric homes. 

• Historical Notes: These lamps bridged colonial designs (like Scottish "crusies") with industrial-era innovations. Rust's patents addressed common issues like wick clogging in fatty fuels, making them popular in rural and urban America through the 1850s. By the Civil War era, they were largely replaced by central-draft kerosene burners. Today, they're collectible for their role in American decorative arts and lighting history, often featured in museums like the Rushlight Club collections.

Item dimensions: 8.25 in tall × 5.5 in wide × 5.5 in deep  

Weight of item only: 1 lb 1 oz