19th Century Scottish large wrought iron hanging 'cruisie' oil lamp

For sale is a charismatic and robust Scottish vernacular 'Cruisie' oil lamp.

- In the 18th and 19th Century in the Highlands, coasts and Islands of Scotland lighting methods and the availability of fuels such as comparatively expensive candles was limited.  This meant that adaptations of rush lighting and the use of oil from fish in coastal districts was commonplace.  This was alongside the basic glow from the light of fires in open hearth dwellings/croft houses.

- This wrought iron, blacksmith made oil lamp or betty from the Orkney Isles was handmade by hammering out a plate of iron to form into a mould.  This was suspended from a wall, nail or beam to provide an adaptable and movable, additional source of light.

- The good size hanging oil lamp is handmade in wrought iron and swings from a decoratively twisted hanging hook down to a revolving attachment located at the top of the oil lamp bracket with a decorative section.

- The cruisie measures circa 52 cm from the hanger down, the body/bracket of the oil lamp is around 29cm and the dish is about 18 cm long and 10cm at the widest bowls section.

-  Cruisie lamps vary a great deal in design and shape, dependent on the availability of iron and the purpose for which they were used.  

- A standard approach had a double pan arrangement but this one looks to be a large single pan (the second pan allowed them to catch the oil drips and not waste anything and this one may have had a second pan at some point and been adapted).  

- Cruisie lamps consist of leaf-shaped vessels in which to hold the oil, into which a floating rush or appropriate wick was placed from the neck to act as a wick soaking up the oil to burn as a bright light source.  In modern times people utilise tea-lights or olive oil into these cruisie lamps with an appropriate wick to reproduce soft/atmospheric lighting.

A very robustly built vernacular item with considerable charm from Northern Scotland or the Isles, ready for another 175+ years of utility.

Free delivery to the UK mainland as priced. International buyers are welcome, but please contact us prior to payment to confirm the additional packaging, insurance and shipping costs by way of acceptance to your country. Purchaser responsible for local import tariffs/fees.  If you are interested in multiple items, please contact us for combined postage.