30 BULLETIN 141, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



the circular elements are termed. A tripod of wire bearing the wick 

 is placed in the cup and water poured in to the required depth and 

 on the water oil sufficient to allow the wick to emerge. This describes 

 the customary Mohammedan oil- water lamp. (PI. 26, Cat. No. 

 325625 ; Turkish Commission, "World Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 

 1893; about 4 feet in diameter, 8 feet high.) From the Centennial 

 Exhibition at Philadelphia in 1876 there was received through the 

 courtesy of the Chinese Imperial Commission a magnificent chan- 

 delier in general effect blue owing to the mosaic of kingfisher feathers 

 with which it is incrusted. The chandelier has arms and large and 

 small rings for installing the lights. These were porcelain simple 

 saucer lamps with rush wicks. (PI. 245 Cat. No. 169334, 72 inches 

 (183 cm.) long.) About 1830 camphine or "burning fluid" was in- 

 troduced. This predecessor of gasoline was prepared by distilling 

 turpentine over lime (see p. 68). The camphine chandelier shown 

 on Plate 25, Figure 2, is of gilt brass and has a reservoir from which 

 the fluid was delivered to the burners by gravity. (Cat. No. 127167, 

 Lynchburg, Va. ; William F. Page; 36 inches (92 cm.).) Wliat may 

 be called a sconce-candelabra is shown in Plate 23, Figure 2. It 

 is of heavy cast brass and of German manufacture, about the seven- 

 teenth century. Gift of Mrs. E. S. Brinton, 12.8 inches (32.5 cm.) 

 long and wide. 



LANTERNS 



Under this head will be classed lanterns as devices for protecting 

 and transporting light, and exhibiting types of illumination inven- 

 tions grading from the candle to advanced oil-burning lamps. It is 

 apparent that those who newly possessed the candle must meet the 

 problem of protecting this clear but fragile light from boisterous 

 airs when carrying it about in the open. This was met by inclosing 

 the candle in an apparatus capable of diffusing the light yet afford- 

 ing the flame sufficient protection. When these prime conditions 

 were met yet other conditions, demanded by the uses to which the 

 lantern was to be put, the place it was to be used or installed, as 

 well as the requirements of taste, arose and were fulfilled. As to 

 the origin or origins of the lantern nothing is known. The zone in 

 which paper and sometimes textiles are used to cover the lantern 

 may be centered in China ; the zone of this cloth rendered transparent 

 and employed usually on collapsing lanterns is Persia; horn, glass, 

 and punched metal lanterns may be assigned to Europe. This may 

 mean three origins of the lantern. Plates of horn as lantern win- 

 dows were practically more serviceable than glass and transmitted 

 sufficient light for ordinary needs. An English horn " lanthorn," 

 a name which shows the connection of horn with this lighting 

 apparatus, is figured on Plate 27«, Figure 1. In common parlance 



