This small tin lantern once stood not on a mantelpiece, but on a grave – its four glass panes protected a small flame from wind and weather for decades.
Material & Construction: Sheet metal (tinplate) with inserted glass panes and decorative, hand-bent wire bracing. The seams are hand-soldered – typical features of traditional tinsmith work.
Era: Probably early to mid-20th century (approx. 1900s–1950s). The exact age cannot be definitively determined from the photos – workmanship and patina suggest an older origin, but this type of lantern was produced in a similar form for many decades.
Dimensions:
- Roof: 7.2 x 7.2 cm (square)
- Base: 5.5 x 5.5 cm (square)
- Height: 10.5 cm
Function: The lantern is fully functional. On the underside, there is a round metal stopper that can be removed to insert a candle – it then sits firmly and permanently back in the base.
Condition: Honest, age-appropriate condition with surface rust and dark oxidation patina – traces of decades of outdoor weathering. All four glass panes are intact, the wire bracing is stable. No repairs, no modern additions. (The candle shown is for illustration only and is not included.)
Origin: This lantern did not come from a flea market stall. It was found in an old, half-ruined house already overgrown with grass and trees – a silent find, not a traded piece.
Price is for 1 piece.
An old house, a forgotten lantern, a light that has not gone out.
Silent light, long preserved — things with soul · VintageAustriaShop
