Japanese Marine Navigation Lantern

Salt weathered and well used, this delightful copper marine inspection lamp features a hinged side with side screw down locks, a hinged hanging bracket at the top and a small vertical copper safety bar over the lantern’s glass.

The three (3) Kanji characters stamped on the half-domed lid indicate the lantern was made in Japan during the late 1900s - 1950s.

The design is recognised as being a marine Copper/Bronze navigation lantern manufactured by the  Nippon Sento Co. Ltd who built a strong reputation for the production of high-quality oil (and later, electrical) nautical lamps and ship's navigation lights

Unfortunately there is a partial crack running through the glass at the top left corner but it does nothing to detract from the wonder of this aged marine veteran from the Orient.

Discovered during a stop over in an ancient ship yard in Kuching, in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, I found this wonderful marine artefact buried amongst a heap of dusty marine fittings salvaged from retired Chinese/Malay fishing hulks littering the banks of the upper Sarawak River.

Imagine this verdigris tinted, vintage copper lamp sitting on a hallway table, bookshelf or mantlepiece in your home - it’s sure to attract attention.

Even better - run a small cable in through the copper side tube and install your own internal light fitting inside this vintage lantern and you've got a beautiful warm and cosy lamp for a hallway or bedroom.

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