228 BULLETIN 139^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



pended by chains from an iron beam were used in the Middle Ages. 

 These lamps approach the crusie form, but had a wick at either end. 



The lucerna is a lamp of luxury and ceremony, and it survives in 

 Italy and will survive for these reasons. Lamps of the folk are 

 mostly of glazed and decorated majolica, and often excellent speci- 

 mens of the art. They consist of a saucer foot, stem, a handle or 

 two handles, and a small bowl pinched up to form a lip or lips for 

 the wick. One of these represents a female figure holding a two- 

 lipped lamp on her head. Another has two gracefully curved handles 

 at the sides of the upright. These lamps do not follow the classic 

 traditions, but are North African. They are of the types found in 

 Mohammedan countries, but much antedate Mohammedanism. 



Civic lighting progressed in Italy much as in other European coun- 

 tries in the way of hanging lanterns in the streets. The acme of art 

 in street lighting is seen in the wonderful forged-iron lanterns on the 

 Strozzi palace in Florence. General illuminations were effected as in 

 other parts by little grease pots called padelle placed on the fapades 

 of buildings. 



SPAIN 



Lamps of the older period in southern Spain are predominantly of 

 Moorishorigin, while those of unconquered Castilla and Leon partook 

 of the phases of art of Spain's European neighbors. There occur in 

 northern Spain forms of the crusie having the drip catcher, the later 

 specimens in use 25 years ago made of tin. A crusie with an upright 

 wick tube was observed in 1892. At that time simple one-tube hand 

 lamps and lanterns were in use among the folk. The peasants also 

 still preserved the open grease lamp. George Borrow saw at San 

 Lucas in 1838 "a small earthen pan on the floor filled with 

 water and oil, on which floated a small piece of card with a lighted 

 wick in the middle, which simple species of lamp is called a 

 'mariposa.' " ^° This type of lamp is seen in an altar lamp of Sancho 

 IV. It consists of a metal basin like the pan of a balance hung by 

 chains. In the basin is set a glass vessel for holding the oil and 

 water.^^ The elaborate metal-work Spanish altar lamps are installed 

 with this lighting device. 



Some of the most remarkable specimens of Moorish art are pre- 

 served in Spain. Chief of these is the mosque lamp from the 

 Alhambra. This lamp is composed of four sections, the upper formed 

 of four " apples" in delicate openwork combining the motto of the Al- 

 Ahmares; below is a pyramidal chimney with fine engraved fretwork 

 on each face. The third section is a canopy of four panels finely 

 fretted and engraved with the Al-Ahmares motto in African charac- 

 ters. The fourth is a cylindrical section to which are attached eight 

 ^ t , 



M Qeorge Borrow. Bible in Spain, p. 289. " Museo Espanol de Antiguedades, Madrid, vol. 1, p. 81. 



