Step back to 1680 with this extraordinary antique English pewter Betty fat lamp—a tabletop beacon from the dawn of colonial lighting. Founded in a guild workshop that year (touch mark: rare shield w/ central key & '1680' inscription, per pewter archives), it features an open saucer for lard/oil, spout for wick, brass-chained picker, and sturdy handle on flat base.

Material: Hand-hammered pewter (tin-lead alloy) with rustic seams, gray patina, and soot residue.

Features: Open saucer reservoir for fuel; tapered spout with wick hole; horizontal arm; carrying handle; brass chain with hooked wick picker; flat round base (5.5" diameter) bearing the shield touch mark inside.

Condition: Strong antique wear—oxidation, minor dents (e.g., spout crimp), but intact and unrestored. Ideal patina for collectors.

Age: Circa 1680–1720 (late 17th to early 18th century). The "1680" founder's date anchors it to a workshop start in that year (likely English guild-registered), with the lamp produced shortly after. This predates the Georgian peak of Betty lamps (~1700–1750) and aligns with transitional colonial designs, when such lamps evolved from crude rushlight holders. Earlier than my prior estimate, making it a scarcer "pre-Georgian" example.

Historical Usage: Portable lighting for humble English or early colonial homes—lard/whale oil in saucer, wick in spout for hours of dim flame; picker for maintenance. Modern: Primitive decor, folk art displays, or reenactments (e.g., Jamestown-era setups). 

Origin: English (likely London or provincial guild, e.g., Midlands or Yorkshire). The dated makers hallmark screams British pewterer tradition (American makers post-1720 rarely used dates). Comparable to output from founders like those in Cotterell’s catalog (e.g., shield-key motifs in 1660–1700 entries). Exported to colonies, explaining U.S. prevalence.

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

Weight of item only: 14.1 oz