Rare ship (?) brass + copper signaling lantern

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Rare ship (?) brass + copper signaling lantern

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Sold Date: 01/05/2008
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Fine Art

To be honest, I'm only guessing that this is a ship's signaling lantern ... not my area of specialty. But first some dimensions: Overall, not counting the handle, she stands 13 1/4" high, with a base thats nominally 5 3/4 inches in diameter. I should also add that the overall weight of this unit is in the vicinity of 8+ pounds. The primary material is copper (wooden upper handle of course), but the hinge, the collar to which the hinge is attached, the topmost lid (see it open in my 3rd pic) and the side handle are heavy brass. The lever to the left of the bubble glass reflector is used to open and close an apeture (see my 9th pic) as if it were a camera so that the lantern can be used to signal. To the right of the glass is a small window that can be covered, apparently to check to see if the flame is alive and well within the lantern. T is, though, one apology ... apparently the interior burn unit is missing (see my 4th pic of the bottom and the empty 'hole' into which presumably the burn unit would be inserted. I can find no other apologies or missing parts ... and the glass of the lens, obviously designed to magnify the light within the lantern, appears to be in perfect condition. I can fin no markings whatsoever on this piece that might indicate its origin or age, which to me seems quite unusual ... unless of course I've missed something obvious. In any event, t is no reserve, but because it its weight and the obvious necessity for packing this piece well, domestic USPS priority mail shipping and insurance will run $30.