Electric lamp, 1910-1920

Cast metal, bent art glass dome

The lighting revolution, which began in 1879 with Thomas Alva Edison's invention of the incandescent lamp, was well established by the year 1900. Lamp manufacturers designed and advertised assorted art-glass dome lamps similar to this one, which could be wired with sockets for electric bulbs or fitted with pipes and burners for gas. These moderately priced table or reading lamps cost between $16 and $24 and were available with domes of amber, green, or "Nile" blue glass.

Gift of Dorothy B. McCumber Estate, Lewistown, IL (745713)

Metal

© Illinois State Museum 31-Dec-96