Antique Japanese Vented Maritime Anchor Oil Lantern

Salt weathered and verdigris stained, this beautiful copper & brass marine anchor light once contained a fillable oil reservoir and wick inside its thick and heavy glass Fresnel lens.

The ribbed/ringed glass design featured engineered stepped lenses that amplified the light generated by the oil lamp inside enabling it to be seen from several miles away.

Built to endure the corrosive marine environment, the oil lamp’s body is constructed from heavy gauge copper with sturdy brass structural elements including the handles, rivets and reinforcement protective lens bars.

The lamp’s ‘Venting Chimney’ features a hinged cap with lockable pin which was designed to allow heat and smoke from the oil burner inside to vent safely whilst protecting the flame from heavy wind and rain.

Early anchor and maritime navigation oil lamps were standard equipment for early 1900’s to post war commercial cargo ships, tankers and fishing vessels with the renown Japanese Nippon Sento Co Ltd being the primary manufacture of these high quality maritime lamps.

With the introduction of more portable 12 v battery systems in fishing vessels. many of the original oil lamps were modified to take an electrical bulb in place of the oil reservoir and wick although this seems not the case in this example.

These original vintage maritime oil lamps are rare and highly collectable and often converted into beautiful decorative interior lighting features or patio lamps.

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