Sale Pending
18th. century Rush Light
Early rushlights like this one with a wooden base are getting harder to find. These were made to hold a rush (prepared by soaking a reed in fat and drying) between the jaws and held in place by the counterbalance arm. The counterbalance arm on this rushlight has the best curled end. The base is lathe turned walnut wood with a great form. The light is 10 1/2” tall and the base is 3 1/4” tall x 3 5/8” in diameter. There is an early 1 1/2” chip out of the top edge, not uncommonly seen with these early lighting devices. American or European, 18th century. NOTE: It is difficult to attribute country of origin to early lighting devices because for several generations, the early colonists used the blacksmithing skills they learned before immigrating. Price: sale pending
