Kerosene lamps from the 19th century represent a significant development in lighting technology and played a crucial role in illuminating homes, businesses, and streets during that era. Kerosene is also known as liquid paraffin.

Prior to the introduction of kerosene lamps, lighting options were limited to candles, oil lamps, or gas lamps. Candles were the most common source of light, but they were expensive, produced limited illumination, and posed a significant fire hazard. Oil lamps, fueled by various vegetable oils, were an improvement over candles, but they were still prone to smoke, odor, and the risk of fire. The arrival of kerosene lamps in the mid-19th century marked a turning point in lighting technology.

Kerosene, a flammable hydrocarbon liquid derived from petroleum, became a popular fuel for lamps due to its clean-burning properties and relatively low cost. Kerosene lamps were more efficient and produced a brighter, steadier light more...

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An American sterling silver oil lamp (night light), modelled as…

An American sterling silver oil lamp (night light), modelled as a genie lamp with planished finish, Black Starr & Frost, New York, height 8 cm, width 11 cm. Weight 153 gm.

An antique English sterling silver and crystal banquet lamp…

Antique Sterling Silver Crystal Banquet Lamp

An antique English sterling silver and crystal banquet lamp with acid etched glass shade and chimney, 19th century, Note: Hinks single burner with bayonet mount, 78 cm high

A Victorian sterling silver and blue-glass oil lamp, by…

Victorian Sterling Silver Oil Lamp with Blue Glass

A Victorian sterling silver and blue-glass oil lamp, by Frederick Elkington and Company Sheffield 1868 74 cm high

An early 20th century Australian Lithgow Matilda oil lamp, with…

Australian Lithgow Matilda Oil Lamp with Kookaburras

An early 20th century Australian Lithgow Matilda oil lamp, with ruby glass and thumb cut reservoir, the square silver plated base with two moulded kookaburras, with maker's button to base. Overall height 57 cm.

An unusual silver plated antique kerosene lamp with single…

Antique Silver Plated Kerosene Lamp with Glass Chimney

An unusual silver plated antique kerosene lamp with single black button burner with glass chimney and shade, circa 1900, 73 cm high overall

Edwardian silver plated and cut-glass oil lamp, electrified,…

Electrified Edwardian Oil Lamp with Hallmark and Provenance

Edwardian silver plated and cut-glass oil lamp, electrified, hallmarked, height 62 cm. Provenance: The collection of Robert Hutchinson, Sydney

An antique oil lamp with figural silver plated base, Duplex…

Antique Oil Lamp with Silver Plated Base and Inscription

An antique oil lamp with figural silver plated base, Duplex black button double burner, original glass font and shade, inscribed on the base, 'Presented To W. Letcher Esq. By His Colleagues Of The Literary Staff And By The Commercial Staff Of The Ballarat…

Five antique nickel plated kerosene lamps, early 20th century,…

Antique Nickel Kerosene Lamps, Early 20th Century

Five antique nickel plated kerosene lamps, early 20th century, the largest 35 cm high

Three nickel plated kerosene lamps, early 20th century, the…

Early 20th Century Nickel Plated Kerosene Lamps

Three nickel plated kerosene lamps, early 20th century, the largest 61 cm high

A pair of silver plate mounted cut glass oil lamps, English,…

19th Century English Silver Plate Oil Lamps with Cut Glass

A pair of silver plate mounted cut glass oil lamps, English, 19th century, 29 cm high without cylinders

A fine kerosene silver plated table lamp. Having intricately…

Silver Plated Kerosene Table Lamp with Crystal Reservoir

A fine kerosene silver plated table lamp. Having intricately decorated Corinthian column with fine cut crystal reservoir and brass double burner with chimney. Height 83 cm.

Greek sterling silver lamp base with embossed grape vine…

Greek Silver Grape Vine Lamp Base

Greek sterling silver lamp base with embossed grape vine decorations raised on three scrolled feet, height 44 cm

A French silver plated oil lamp, late 19th century/early 20th…

French Silver Plated Oil Lamp, Late 19th Century

A French silver plated oil lamp, late 19th century/early 20th century, 87 cm high

Miniature English sterling silver Aladdin style oil lamp with…

Sterling Silver Aladdin Lamp with Bird Handle (Birmingham 1909)

Miniature English sterling silver Aladdin style oil lamp with bird handle, hallmarked Birmingham 1909, by makers HM

An antique silver plated oil lamp, converted for electricity,…

Converted Antique Silver Plated Oil Lamp (1900)

An antique silver plated oil lamp, converted for electricity, circa 1900, 54 cm high

Pair of Mexican sterling silver oil lamps (925) good matched…

Mexican Sterling Silver Oil Lamps (Pair)

Pair of Mexican sterling silver oil lamps (925) good matched pair of oil lamps with elongated bodies and, shaped handles. Marked to base (925), Widths 15 cm weight 198g

Pair of Aladdin nickel plated oil lamps, 61 cm high including…

Nickel Plated Aladdin Oil Lamps - 61cm Tall

Pair of Aladdin nickel plated oil lamps, 61 cm high including chimney

American night light kerosene lamp clock, silver plated base…

19th Century Kerosene Lamp Clock with Milk Glass Dial

American night light kerosene lamp clock, silver plated base with milk glass dial in brass bezel, Hinks single burner, 19th century, 42.5 cm high

A sterling silver oil lamp table cigar lighter, 1894 London,…

Antique Silver Oil Lamp Cigar Lighter

A sterling silver oil lamp table cigar lighter, 1894 London, with maker's mark for Joseph Braham, a pedestal Roman style lamp with an elegant cast flying handle in the form of a swan neck, hallmarked underside, total weight 299gr, height 11 cm, length 15…

Edwardian sterling silver & glass oil lamp in the form of a…

Edwardian Silver Corinthian Column Oil Lamp

Edwardian sterling silver & glass oil lamp in the form of a Corinthian column, hallmarked Sheffield 1906, 44 cm high, loaded base, no burner, chimney or shade, 1911 inscription from the staff at The Union Bank of Scotland to D.C. Gairdner esq.

Silver plated Barcelona font De Canaletes 1888, height: 28 cm,…

Broken Lamp: Silver Plated Barcelona Font De Canaletes 1888

Silver plated Barcelona font De Canaletes 1888, height: 28 cm, Reads: font De Canaletes 1888, Les Rambles De Barcelona, condition: one lamp has broken off

A small unusual silver bell shaped oil lamp, height 7.5 cm.…

Birmingham 1920 Silver Bell Oil Lamp by Emanuel

A small unusual silver bell shaped oil lamp, height 7.5 cm. Birmingham 1920 by Lawrence Emanuel.

Victorian silver plate adapted fuel lamp adapted for…

Adapted Victorian Fuel Lamp with Goat Head Masks

Victorian silver plate adapted fuel lamp adapted for electricity, from original twin fuel lamp. Engraved and reeded decoration, with gilded goat's head masks to each side, marked EPBM and # 3411 to base. Height 21 cm

Antique silver plated oil lamp, 65 cm high

65cm Antique Silver Plated Oil Lamp

Antique silver plated oil lamp, 65 cm high

Edward VII silver oil lamp form lighter Sheffield 1905, makers…

Edwardian Silver Oil Lamp Form Lighter, Sheffield 1905

Edward VII silver oil lamp form lighter Sheffield 1905, makers Levesley Brothers, embossed decoration, with serpentine handle, height 10 cm weight 120 grams

Antique French silver plate & brass oil lamp, 44 cm high

French Silver Plate Oil Lamp, 44 cm High

Antique French silver plate & brass oil lamp, 44 cm high

A neoclassical style sterling silver kerosene table lamp, 1909…

Neoclassical Sterling Silver Kerosene Table Lamp, 1909 Sheffield

A neoclassical style sterling silver kerosene table lamp, 1909 Sheffield, with maker's mark for Martin hall & Co, fittings by Re & S, an urn shaped heavily weighted lamp upon an integral spreading plinth, decorated with husk swags, ram's head mounts and…

A late Victorian Hinks & Son's sterling silver oil lamp, by…

Victorian Sterling Silver Oil Lamp by Hinks & Son's

A late Victorian Hinks & Son's sterling silver oil lamp, by William Chawner II, London, 1896. Height 46 cm

Victorian sterling silver & silver plate oil lamp, twin burner,…

Antique Victorian Silver Oil Lamp with Shade & Chimney

Victorian sterling silver & silver plate oil lamp, twin burner, hallmarked London 1889, silver maker - Walter & John Barnard, complete with glass chimney & shade, 62 cm high

An Edwardian silver plate banqueting lamp, the tapering…

Edwardian Silver Plate Banqueting Lamp with Crystal Reservoir

An Edwardian silver plate banqueting lamp, the tapering hexagonal form column on conforming base with wide drip tray holding a hobnail cut crystal reservoir, with original fitting to top, chimney absent. Height 65 cm

Edwardian sterling silver oil lamp, hallmarked, London, 1908, J.…

Edwardian Sterling Silver Oil Lamp with Serpent Handle

Edwardian sterling silver oil lamp, hallmarked, London, 1908, J.B, of typical form, with serpent handle, on circular foot, total weight 93gm, length 10 cm

An impressive Victorian silver plate banqueting lamp, the…

Victorian Banqueting Lamp with Etched Glass Shade

An impressive Victorian silver plate banqueting lamp, the Corinthian column of multi-stepped base, the plain glass oil reservoir with optic cut detail, with etched glass shade and chimney.

An Edwardian silver plate Corinthian column oil lamp with cut…

Corinthian Column Oil Lamp with Crystal Font and Inscription

An Edwardian silver plate Corinthian column oil lamp with cut crystal font, with hobnail-cut font the column on stepped square base, with a French inscription 'Un Dieu, Un Roy', marked 'Hardy Bros. Sydney Brisbane English Maker', 72 cm high

Hinks & Sons silver plated converted Keroscene lamp styled as a…

Hinks & Sons Corinthian Column Converted Lamp

Hinks & Sons silver plated converted Keroscene lamp styled as a Corinthian column, later electrified. Condition good, minor age related wear. Height 79 cm

A superb silver plated banquet lamp. 85 cm high

Grand Silver Banquet Lamp - 85cm Height

A superb silver plated banquet lamp. 85 cm high

Two Victorian silver plated oil lamps with Hink's burners,…

Pair of Victorian Silver Plated Oil Lamps with Hink's Burners

Two Victorian silver plated oil lamps with Hink's burners, marked FLAVELLE & ROBERTS, 15.5 cm high

Antique Messengers Annular banquet lamp base, with silver…

Antique Silver Plated Banquet Lamp Base with Glass Reservoir

Antique Messengers Annular banquet lamp base, with silver plated column base (marked FLAVELLE) and glass reservoir, converted to electricity, as inspected, 60 cm high approx

Late Victorian sterling silver Corinthian column oil lamp with…

Victorian Silver Corinthian Column Oil Lamp

Late Victorian sterling silver Corinthian column oil lamp with hobnail cut glass resevoir, the square base with neo-classical urns and gadrooned borders

French silver 800 standard Napoleonic oil lamp with etched…

Napoleonic Silver Oil Lamp with Etched Floral Detail

French silver 800 standard Napoleonic oil lamp with etched scroll work, floral detail & an eagle head handle. Reims, Soissons. Length - 11 cm. Weight 83g

A Victorian kerosene lamp, on a brass plated base with ruby…

Ruby Glass Victorian Kerosene Lamp

A Victorian kerosene lamp, on a brass plated base with ruby glass font and etched ruby shade

A Walker & Hall plated kerosene lamp with a Corinthian column,…

Corinthian Column Plated Kerosene Lamp with Etched Shade

A Walker & Hall plated kerosene lamp with a Corinthian column, a thumb pressed font and etched glass shade

Fine antique silver plated oil banquet lamp, approx 73 cm high

Antique Silver Plated Oil Banquet Lamp - 73cm High

Fine antique silver plated oil banquet lamp, approx 73 cm high

A sterling silver Aladdin's oil lamp on oval form base with…

Sterling Silver Aladdin's Oil Lamp, Birmingham 1920

A sterling silver Aladdin's oil lamp on oval form base with wrythen finial and swan neck handle. Birmingham, 1920. Length 14 cm

Banquet lamp with silver plated column, cut crystal font and…

Silver and Crystal Banquet Lamp with Original Shade

Banquet lamp with silver plated column, cut crystal font and original shade

English hallmarked sterling silver Victorian oil lamp with a…

Victorian Sterling Silver Oil Lamp with Snake Handle

English hallmarked sterling silver Victorian oil lamp with a snake handle. Sheffield, 1898, maker Mappin & Webb. Length 13.5 cm. Weight 184g

Two silver plated oil lamps by Aladdin 31 cm high

Pair of 31cm Aladdin Silver Oil Lamps

Two silver plated oil lamps by Aladdin 31 cm high

A sterling silver Aladdin's oil lamp on oval form base with…

1920 Birmingham Sterling Silver Aladdin's Oil Lamp

A sterling silver Aladdin's oil lamp on oval form base with wrythen finial and swan neck handle. Birmingham, 1920. Length 14 cm

Antique oil lamp. Single burner with clear glass font and…

Silver Plated Antique Oil Lamp with Marble Column

Antique oil lamp. Single burner with clear glass font and silver plated base and marble column

A Victorian banqueting lamp, the silver plate Corinthian column…

Victorian Banqueting Lamp with Floral Etched Shade

A Victorian banqueting lamp, the silver plate Corinthian column on square stepped base, the oil reservoir of plain glass with optical wheel cut decoration, floral etched glass shade. Height 80 cm

Oil lamp, silver plated column with pink striped font & shade

Silver Oil Lamp with Pink Striped Shade

Oil lamp, silver plated column with pink striped font & shade