H. N. Hooper Company
Sinumbra Lamp

Public Domain

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Maker H. N. Hooper Company (American, 1832–1868)American, 1832–1868

CultureAmerican

Titles

Sinumbra Lamp

Datec. 1835–1840

Made inBoston, Massachusetts, United States

MediumBrass and glass

Dimensions31 × 10 × 10 in. (78.7 × 25.4 × 25.4 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by the Jack R. McGregor Endowment

Object numberB.2006.10.A-.D

Not on view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

METALWORK

DescriptionIn 1783, the Argand lamp announced the first improvement in lighting since classical antiquity. Other improvements quickly followed, including the sinumbra lamp, a French innovation of the 1820s. The lamp takes its name from the Latin sine umbra (without shadow) because the oil reservoir is concealed within the shade, and therefore the flame casts little shadow. Two American firms—H.N. Hooper of Boston and Cornelius & Co. of Philadelphia—produced these lamps. This rare and distinguished example of Hooper’s work with its cluster-column support is inspired by Gothic architecture. This example is unusual because it retains its original surface.
Provenance[Hugo A. Ramirez, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 2006.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Marked on underside (by dealer?): H.N. HOOPER CO BOSTON

Stamped on upper cylinder of oil reservoir in a rectangle: MANUFACTURED / H. N. HOOPER & Co. / BOSTON

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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