Hey out there, dose any one know what this is. Its at an antique shop I do some work for, it opporates like tongs and is mounted on a pole like a wood chisel would be mounted on its handel. The faceted ball is about 2 1/2" accross.
It looks like you might have a rush lamp. They were made out of worn out fire tongs & were used to light the blacksmith shop in the night hours. Smaller versions were made for the home. They go back as far as the 13th century. Rush is a type of grass reed that grows by rivers & streams.
Antique
Hi Kevin W.,
It looks like you might have a rush lamp. They were made out of worn out fire tongs & were used to light the blacksmith shop in the night hours. Smaller versions were made for the home. They go back as far as the 13th century. Rush is a type of grass reed that grows by rivers & streams.
Peggy