Paper Travel Lantern

Paper Travel Lantern

£565
Reference

83761

A rosewood and paper Portable Lantern.

The Lantern expands to its full height by the use of finely pleated paper which extends like an accordion when the top is released from the base. The height increases from its packed size of 3/4 of an inch to 4 1/4 inches. The top is made up of two parts: a central wooden disc that sits on the lip of an outer ring. They are joined by an ornately shaped brass hinge. With the lid opened 180 degrees it forms a simple handle to carry the lantern. It was never made to be hung.

The base is made of a single piece of turned rosewood which has a central brass pin. The pin has an eye which passes through a hole to the top disc to lock the lantern in the folded position with a brass swing hook. The pin is held in place by a flower head shaped piece of brass to the underside of the base. Aside from fixing the lantern when folded, it is likely the pin also acted as a pricket to hold the candle unless a coiled wax taper was used.

Paper lanterns probably originated in the East with Japanese, Chinese and Turkish examples known. French Paper Lanterns from Nancy were made in the late 17th century and other European countries such as Austria made their own versions in the 18th Century, but English examples are not known according to Pinto's 1968 book on Treen. However, the English certainly used Paper Lanterns. Captain William Tyrwhitt Drake of the Horse Guards had a simplified Paper Lantern with card instead of wood that he used during the Napoleonic Wars and Florence Nightingale used a Turkish Paper Lantern during the Crimean War. Pinto also notes that such Lanterns are rare and given the danger of paper close to a flame, it is obvious why.

The brass work to this Lantern suggests that it is Colonial and possibly from Batavia (Jakarta, Indonesia). It is all held in place by pins that are turned over to the underside. We have seen illustrations of two others with very similar metal work, although not in brass, and the same paper with its distinctive red and green stripes.

Such lanterns are hard to find and the condition of this one looks to be unused. Early to mid 18th century.

Extended size is given.

Dimensions:

Height 10.8 cm / 4 "
Diameter 8.25 cm / 3 "
Period

Early to mid 18th century.

Medium

Ebony & Paper

Country

Possibly from Batavia

Style

Travel Lighting

EXHIBITIONS
Made For Travel
Condition

Good

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