A well used late 18th / early 19th century sheet iron pendant lantern with horn windows.

British circa 1800

16” high x 6½” diameter / 40cm high x 16.5cm diameter

£340 sold

From  – The National Trust Book of Forgotten Household Crafts by John Seymour…”The word lantern is derived from ‘lanthorn’ as the first lanterns used thin, translucent strips of horn rather than glass to protect the naked flame of the candle inside, while allowing the light to shine through brightly…”

&

Old English Household Life by Gertrude Jekyll & Sydney R Jones….”Work by night, the cares of farm and field during the intervals of darkness, and fireside evenings in winter were represented by such symbols as rushlight holders, candlesticks, horn lanterns, snuffers and brand tongs. The shape of horn lanterns especially, which to this present century continued to follow the old Gothic lines, clearly showed for how many centuries this useful object had typified a need of man.”