Learning through objects from the Islington Education Library Service’s handling collection
Piano Lamp, Victorian, Original
This lamp is made of brass and designed to be freestanding. It has a wide base to make it stable and a fairly large body to contain the oil. The long glass chimney of the lamp carried the smoke away from the user and prevented the flame from being blown out by draughts. This lamp has been designed to meet a specific purpose as it has a solid brass shade to send the light in a particular direction. This would have been very useful for activities such as reading, lace making or reading music while playing the piano.
Oil has been used as a fuel for lamps for thousands of years. Early oil lamps were shallow earthenware dishes that contained the oil and a wick. By the19th century oil lamps had become more sophisticated and were produced in a variety of designs to serve different functions. There were hanging lamps, portable lamps and tabletop lamps. They were produced in a variety of materials such as tin, copper, pottery and brass.
Oil has been used as a fuel for lamps for thousands of years. Early oil lamps were shallow earthenware dishes that contained the oil and a wick. By the19th century oil lamps had become more sophisticated and were produced in a variety of designs to serve different functions. There were hanging lamps, portable lamps and tabletop lamps. They were produced in a variety of materials such as tin, copper, pottery and brass.
Height:43.5cm
The piano was a popular musical instrument in many homes. Families and friends gathered around the piano in the evenings to sing together, or learn and practice new pieces of music. Today, some adults and children still play the piano for their own, and their families, entertainment.
Most people play the piano while reading the music. The design of a piano includes a music rack so the pianist can read the music without blocking the view down to the hands on the keys. The piano lamp was developed to direct light onto the music sheet to enable the pianist to see clearly after daylight had faded. An ordinary oil lamp allows a regular, circular pool of light to spread out from the wick, but the light could not be pointed or directed beyond this circle. By placing a hollow brass bowl around half of the lamp, the light can be more controlled and directed because it reflects and therefore increases its strength by bouncing off the brass bowl.
There are many variations to the solution of creating the right light for a pianist to read music by. Many pianos were designed with candleholders attached to the music stand that could be swung into position when needed. The problem with this was candle wax dripping on the piano keys. A piano lamp was a safer, cleaner solution; some were attached to the piano, near the music, others rested on the top of the piano. Today, with the development of electricity and the miniaturisation of electrical lighting and appliances, piano lamps are frequently tiny strips of light fitted onto the music stand. They are so small that they are often only noticed when lit.
Most people play the piano while reading the music. The design of a piano includes a music rack so the pianist can read the music without blocking the view down to the hands on the keys. The piano lamp was developed to direct light onto the music sheet to enable the pianist to see clearly after daylight had faded. An ordinary oil lamp allows a regular, circular pool of light to spread out from the wick, but the light could not be pointed or directed beyond this circle. By placing a hollow brass bowl around half of the lamp, the light can be more controlled and directed because it reflects and therefore increases its strength by bouncing off the brass bowl.
There are many variations to the solution of creating the right light for a pianist to read music by. Many pianos were designed with candleholders attached to the music stand that could be swung into position when needed. The problem with this was candle wax dripping on the piano keys. A piano lamp was a safer, cleaner solution; some were attached to the piano, near the music, others rested on the top of the piano. Today, with the development of electricity and the miniaturisation of electrical lighting and appliances, piano lamps are frequently tiny strips of light fitted onto the music stand. They are so small that they are often only noticed when lit.
Height:43.5cm
This lamp is made of brass and designed to be freestanding. It has a wide base to make it stable and a fairly large body to contain the oil. The long glass chimney of the lamp carried the smoke away from the user and prevented the flame from being blown out by draughts. This lamp has been designed to meet a specific purpose as it has a solid brass shade to send the light in a particular direction. This would have been very useful for activities such as reading, lace making or reading music while playing the piano.
Oil has been used as a fuel for lamps for thousands of years. Early oil lamps were shallow earthenware dishes that contained the oil and a wick. By the19th century oil lamps had become more sophisticated and were produced in a variety of designs to serve different functions. There were hanging lamps, portable lamps and tabletop lamps. They were produced in a variety of materials such as tin, copper, pottery and brass.
Oil has been used as a fuel for lamps for thousands of years. Early oil lamps were shallow earthenware dishes that contained the oil and a wick. By the19th century oil lamps had become more sophisticated and were produced in a variety of designs to serve different functions. There were hanging lamps, portable lamps and tabletop lamps. They were produced in a variety of materials such as tin, copper, pottery and brass.
