Topic: Alison Kinnaird storm lamp

[Frank]

It's fabulous!  ....would you ever dare use it as a lamp?!   

Why not, that is what it is. Has to be tried.

[Leni]

Why not, that is what it is. Has to be tried.

:thud: IMHO opinion, no, it most certainly does NOT 'have' to be tried!     :24:  Not given all the exquisite work that went into it, never mind what it cost! 

Go and try using something less beautiful (and cheaper) as a lamp, Frank    :24:

[Frank]

I would not think twice about using it. I am not like one collector of Rolls Royce's (and Monart) who kept one of his Rolls Royce's in his sitting room great believer in using things for which they are made. Makes for a more beautiful life. But I guess a lot of collectors buy Chinese glass for daily use and moan about it diluting their collecting interests.

[chopin-liszt]

I'm desperate to see what sort of shadows it would cast.
I've tried using a LED torch, but it doesn't *do* what a candle would - the light is directed rather than diffuse.

It is beautifully composed over the surface, images on the far side can be seen through gaps in the near side, it takes my breath away every time I look at it.

(.....one minute interlude while I go and have another gaze.....)

It's busy without being fussy - it is just perfectly complete.
I love it more and more as time passes.
I've written to ask about it.

[Frank]

 :mrgreen:

[Leni]

great believer in using things for which they are made. Makes for a more beautiful life.

While I absolutely agree with you on one level, Frank, I can't help feeling that some things are just too precious and beautiful to risk using them and causing some injury to them!  Especially things I might never be able to replace  :spls:  Those things I regard as purely ornamental.   Like I would never put flowers in a Sam Herman vase (although I know Sue does   )  I would use a 'cheap' (not necessarily Chinese, although maybe, if it was pretty enough ) vase for that, but I wouldn't moan  My tastes are eclectic enough to cope  :pb: :24:

I might be tempted to try a tea-light in it, Sue, just to see the effect (and maybe photograph it?) but I would be too afraid of damaging it to leave it with a lighted candle in it!    

And yes, very  :mrgreen: 

[chopin-liszt]

That's sort of what I thought I might do.
I'll have to buy a candle, put the whole lot in my light tent and see if I can get an idea and some photographs of what appears.
I'll have to wait until I stop shaking with awe before it, before I try though.

Yesterday, I tried to fill the kettle without taking the lid off first, I counted out exactly the wrong change to buy a sultana bran scone in the baker's and apologised to my reflection in the mirror for accidentally pushing in front of it in the queue.

And those are just the things I remember.   :spls:

(The Sam Herman I very occassionaly use for flowers is not signed or marked and is already water damaged. It is also a fabulous shape for flowers. and it's pink.)

[Cathy B]

Just extraordinary.  :mrgreen: If you don't look carefully (as I didn't until you pointed it out) you'd miss the cleverness in the detail.

I couldn't bring myself to bung a candle in this either, Frank. It seems disrespectful to the artist, given the time, effort and thought put into creating it.

[Lustrousstone]

It seems disrespectful to the artist, given the time, effort and thought put into creating it.

Equally, it could be disrespectful not to put a candle in it. Why go to such effort on a storm lantern if the candlelight did not play a part in seeing the design to its full glory? Why not use an elegant footed vase?

[oldglassman]

I completely agree with Frank :hiclp: ,if the item has been made to be used ,be it new or old ,it should be used at least once by its current owner , I use every item that comes to me at least once, and many of my 18thc drinking glasses and goblets are used regularly by myself and trusted guests,no matter what the value of the item , they were all made to be used and to deny the item its original function seems a bit precious to me ,like i said though, with care and consideration for its age and value, i am also sure that a nice drop of Vino tastes much better from a wonderful early goblet.

cheers,

Peter.