Vintage miniature brass finger oil lamp with a swiveling reservoir, carrying loop, and clear ruffled glass chimney.
This Hong Kong made novelty lamp copies the self leveling form of older maritime cabin lighting and works well as a small nautical display piece.
Details
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Item: Miniature Finger Oil Lamp
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Era: Mid to late twentieth century
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Materials: Brass tone metal, clear glass, cotton wick
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Color: Aged brass, dark brown patina, and clear glass
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Maker/Mark: Made in Hong Kong
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Style: Nautical, maritime, Victorian revival
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Special Features: Swiveling gimbal style reservoir, finger loop handle, exposed wick, and ruffled pie crust glass chimney
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Size: Approximately 5 inches tall. Base measures approximately 2 3/4 inches across. Chimney opening measures approximately 1 1/4 inches across.
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Working Status: Not tested with fuel. Sold for display and sold as is.
Condition Grade: Good
Positives
- Clear glass chimney is present and appears intact in the photos.
- Reservoir, carrying loop, gimbal supports, burner assembly, and wick are present.
Issues / Wear
- Metal surfaces show tarnish, oxidation, spotting, scratches, and finish loss.
- Burner crown shows bending and uneven points around the chimney holder.
- Lamp has not been filled, lit, or tested for leaks or safe operation.
See all photos for detail. Sold as pictured and sold as is.
Condition Grade Key
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Near Fine: Almost perfect. Very minor signs of age only.
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Very Good: Shows light use. Sound and attractive with minor flaws.
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Good: Complete and intact. Noticeable wear consistent with age and use.
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Fair: Shows significant wear. Readable or usable but clearly used.
Collector's Notes
Small finger lamps like this were made as decorative versions of portable oil lamps used before electric lighting became common.
This one suits miniature lamp collectors, nautical displays, or a shelf of maritime objects.
The pivoting reservoir and ruffled chimney give this little lamp more character than a standard tabletop miniature.
It is best treated as an untested display piece unless inspected by someone familiar with oil lamps.
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Disclaimer
All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece—please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.
While I do my best to capture colors accurately, your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.
Please Note:
These pieces come from estate collections and have been surface cleaned. You may wish to perform additional cleaning depending on your preference.
