An old temple lantern-Japanese? Chinese?

M ELEY · 16th March 2021, 11:04 PM

Thanks for commenting, Francantolin. Yes, I really like this piece. It was 'rewired' back in the thirties with a lightbulb and listed as 'an Old Salem lamp'. Old Salem here in NC is a colonial town dating back to the 1750's. It was a crap job and I tore out the wire that was clearly added later. I've seen so many antiques from the 'Deco' period that were permanently destroyed! I've seen Bavarian swords made into candle holders/hilts, Indian Kula Khed helmets made into lamps. I myself used to own two Japanese temple lanterns (big ones embellished with dragons, snails, turtles, etc, that had the dragon bronze head removed and a lamp fixture placed, again some time in the 30's. Such a tragedy! Anyway, this piece is intact and the iron chain links I'm assuming are more modern.

16th March 2021, 11:04 PM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,165	Thanks for commenting, Francantolin. Yes, I really like this piece. It was 'rewired' back in the thirties with a lightbulb and listed as 'an Old Salem lamp'. Old Salem here in NC is a colonial town dating back to the 1750's. It was a crap job and I tore out the wire that was clearly added later. I've seen so many antiques from the 'Deco' period that were permanently destroyed! I've seen Bavarian swords made into candle holders/hilts, Indian Kula Khed helmets made into lamps. I myself used to own two Japanese temple lanterns (big ones embellished with dragons, snails, turtles, etc, that had the dragon bronze head removed and a lamp fixture placed, again some time in the 30's. Such a tragedy! Anyway, this piece is intact and the iron chain links I'm assuming are more modern.