Saturday, January 07, 2012
Antique VICTORIAN Banquet OIL LAMP, Brass, Wrought Iron HP ROSES ABCo Rochester-$151 |
When the old lady grew tired of the smell of kerosene, and her hands ached as she fumbled with the thumbwheel while juggling the globe, chimney and a match, she had it electrified. And you know something else? Part of that is true.
It did actually come from the estate of an elderly lady down toward Cincinnati, but I’m afraid the rest, though likely, leaked out of my brain as soon as my gnarly old fingers hit the keyboard. She’s done Gone to Glory, so we don’t have a way to verify the actual circumstances of its rebirth as a useful electric lamp.
RANDOM ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA
FARINI, LUIGI CARLO (1812-1866) italian physician, statesman, + historian. b reissi, ravenna. after completing a brilliant university course at bologna he practiced as a physician at ravenna. by his successful treatment of various diseases, + his communications to the bolognese bottelino dell science mediche + other journals, he soon acquired a considerable reputation, but in 1843 his political opinions brought him under suspicion of the police, + caused his expulsion from the papal states. he then resided successfully at marseilles, paris, florence, + turin. taking advantage of medical facilities available to perfect his skills, but by the amnesty granted by pius IX in 1846, permitted to return to the papal states + soon after professor of surgery at osino. in 1847 he was induced to take advantage of an opportunity to enter political life + became secretaryof state, but served little more than a month, disapproved of the policy of the pope siding w/ austria against italy. elected in 1848 member to the reformed parliament for faenza, he was named director of health + prisons, but refused to adhere to the proclamation of a republic + resigned + went to tuscany. when the french army entered rome, he resumd office, but the triumvirate of cardinals, who governed in the pope's name having compelled him to go again into exile, + moved to turin, + published a satirical paper + historical work. blah blah overexersion, however, brought on softening of the brain, which compelled him to resign in 1863 + died 1866.
Antique HANGING WALL BOX w LID, Dovetailed & SIGNED w Copper Lined DRAWER FINE-#382
With no family history to go by, my best guess is “Indiana or Kentucky,” but the only reason I’m guessing that locality is because the family has its roots along the Ohio River – in both Kentucky and Indiana, near Madison. It could just as easily be from Pennsylvania or even northeast of there.
I believe the wood is Tulip Poplar, but I could be wrong about that. The finish is old, possibly even the original. There is so much I love about it, it’s difficult to begin. I think I’ll just dispense with my usual chatter and pull a Sgt. Friday – “Just the facts.” You’ve all got good sense, and you know what kind of things I sell by now.
One thing you could do in a copper lined section is start herb seeds if the box sat near a sunny window.
