Lamp Classifications
Where applicable, the classification of lamps in this collection is based on type designations that were developed by Siegfried Loeshcke, Oscar Broneer, and J.W. Hayes.
Pottery Lamps
Open Saucer and Pinched Nozzle Lamps
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Description and History of Oil Lamps
Roman Oil Lamps Defined
A lamp is a device that holds and burns fuel, typically oil, as a means of producing light. Although oil lamps have taken on a variety of shapes and sizes throughout history, the basic required components are a wick, fuel, a reservoir for fuel, and an air supply to maintain a flame.
Mediterranean Oil Lamps
Introduction
The Mediterranean oil lamp collection at the Milwaukee Public Museum is the result of approximately 100 years of collecting with the first acquisition occurring in 1901 in the form of a donation from Elizabeth Plankinton, a prominent figure in the history of Milwaukee. Until 2001, the collection continued to grow through purchases, donations from 42 other donors, and excavations at the site of Tell Hadidi, Syria.
Ancient Oil Lamp Collection
Oil lamps were used throughout the Roman Empire and consequently are common artifacts from the ancient Mediterranean. The Milwaukee Public Museum's collection consists of over 200 lamps with examples from various time periods and regions, making it a very good study collection. The lamps were collected from a variety of sources over a span of about 100 years. Some of the lamps from this collection can be seen in the North African area on the Third Floor.
Item Image
Catalog Number
N13538
Accession Number
19593
76
Tiffany Lamp
This lamp from "Tiffany Studios New York" dates back to the early 1900s. The four-light lamp contains a glass shade decorated with a grapevine pattern and an antiqued wisteria bronze base. Tiffany lamps were first created in the late 1800s from the design of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Tiffany originally created stained glass for windows and then transitioned to staining glass for lamps. Tiffany glass lamps are traditionally made by hand, not mass produced by machinery, making them an exceptional and unique piece of glass art.
Item Image
Catalog Number
N12050
Accession Number
18956
36
Poetry Competition Winning Poems 2013-2014
2014 Winning Poems
Dark Wonder
Abbey Cameranesi, Grade 5, Grafton Elementary School
Teacher: Mary Beth Wild
Space is beautiful.
With glowing stars.
Rocks flow by
Like fireflies in the night.
We are stargazers.
As we watch,
We stare. We
See something up there.
Everything is different,
Than how it is on Earth,
As it is in space.
Exhibit Recipes
Below you'll find some of your favorite recipes from the interactive table in our Global Kitchen exhibit. Be sure to check back periodically for updates!
Grilled Salmon and Peach Salad
Anthropology Collections & Research
Some of the Milwaukee Public Museum's great collections are available online.
American Indian Cradles and Cradleboards - The Museum’s collection of cradles, cradleboards, and associated accoutrements includes nearly 200 items.
References
Cannizzo, A.C. (2007). Enlightened: An analysis of a collection of ancient Mediterranean oil lamps from the Milwaukee Public Museum (Master’s degree thesis). University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Roman Empire: A Brief History
From its founding in 625 BC to its fall in AD 476, the Roman Empire conquered and integrated dozens of cultures.
The influence of these cultures can be seen in objects, such as oil lamps, made and used throughout the Empire.