Topic: Fairy Lamp - Blumberg Rd 44546 - 1886

[Jim Sapp]

This fairy lamp (to use the term loosely) was registered by the Blumberg Company in 1886. Blumberg was an early competitor to Samuel Clarke.

This lamp is referred to as a Sombrero type for apparent reasons. It originally had a flat fluted saucer with an intregal candle cup. The glass is "clear stamped" with the Blumberg diamond logo and the words - "Blumberg Co. Limited".

Clarke did not commission this lamp, but he may have commissioned the more typical dome shape fairy lamp shown on a clear Clarke lamp cup.

The Registered design was apparently related to the shape rather than to the glass type. As you can see from the group photo, this lamp came in several glass types. In a couple of the examples, you can see the fluted saucer like base that allows for air to feed The candle. Without the base, the candle is likely not able to burn.

Unfortunately, I have been unable to find very much information on the Blumberg company.  If anyone has any information on the Blumberg Co, I would like to hear from you.

This lamp is only about 6" tall.

See photo links below.

http://www.fairy-lamp.com/Fairylamp/Blumberg_01.jpg

http://www.fairy-lamp.com/Fairylamp/Blumberg_02.jpg

http://www.fairy-lamp.com/Fairylamp/Blumberg_03.jpg

http://www.fairy-lamp.com/Fairylamp/Blumberg_04.jpg

[Anne]

Jim, a search of the UK National Archives' catalogue brings some results for Blumberg and Berens Blumberg...  including some more registrations along with an address, which may be a starter for you: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=Blumberg+and+Company

And there is a mention in the walk leaflet for West Norwood Cemetery LEAFLET LINK (PDF file) of Otto Berens who may have had that earlier connection with these Blumbergs (referring back to the Nat. Archives results for Berens Blumberg in St Paul's Churchyard)

Otto Alexander Berens was a linen draper whose firm Berens, Blumberg & Co imported and dealt in fancy goods such as lace and silk. Berens was born in Prussia which was then a German kingdom.   ... Berens, Blumberg & Co was based in St Paul’s Churchyard from the 1830s before moving to Cannon Street in the 1850s.

and another http://www.fownc.org/pdf/newsletter65.pdf (PDF file)  in a similar vein:

Berens was a Prussian-born linen draper who lived at Raleigh House, Brixton Hill. His firm, Berens, Blumberg & Co, importers and dealers in fancy goods (lace, etc.), had premises at St Paul’s Churchyard in the 1830s and at Cannon Street in the 1850s.

Some of the other registered designs are in Class IV (Earthenware) or Useful RD's,  and looking at them I was wondering if they may have been an importer and/or retailer rather than a maker, so following that thought I found mention of Blumberg's fancy warehouse 2 Cannon Street in a case at the Old Bailey (court) in 1882 (theft from said premises)  http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?div=t18821016-947

I also found this entry on the Antique Box Guide website http://www.antiquebox.org/index-of-british-makers-and-retailers/ which adds names plus two more addresses to the Cannon Street one:

Blumberg & Co (Victor Ludwig Alexander Blumberg, Charles Nathaniel Blumberg, George Frederick Blumberg, Frederick William Ludwig Blumberg, Henry John Blumberg and John Barber): 2 Cannon Street, London – 16 Old Change, London – 64 Rue Bondy, Paris.

Another citation here http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/winn/bios/easterbh.txt adds to the importer rather than maker idea:

Blumberg & Co., of Cannon Street, London, one of the largest handlers of dry goods and notions,
strictly first - class, in the city

London Metropolitan Archives holdings include some material connected with Blumberg's too (mainly legal stuff - leases etc) http://search.lma.gov.uk/LMA_DOC/ACC_1406.PDF (PDF file)

J.A. Berly's Universal Electrical Directory and Advertiser Published 1884 https://archive.org/details/jaberlysunivers00berlgoog has entries for Blumberg:
BLUMBERG & CO., bronzists, 2, Cannon -street, London, E.C.

And they also sold clocks apparently!  http://www.mikrolisk.de/show.php?site=280&suchwort=Blumberg&searchWhere=all#sucheMarker

[Anne]

Oh, and there is more about Blumberg's in the London Gazette too, Jim: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/notice?text=Blumberg 

[Jim Sapp]

Wow!!  Thank you so much for the references!  I really appreciate it and will review them all for nuggets of information.

[Anne]

Jim, I've found something else which I can't post on here as it's copyright source,  so I'll email it to you if that's OK?  It's a large-ish image.

[Lustrousstone]

The second one looks like the Stuart pattern to me

[agincourt17]

Jenny Thompson (page 135 in ‘The Identification of English Pressed Glass 1842-1908’) describes RD 44546, registered 9 March 1886 by Blumberg & Co. Ltd., London  - Fancy Goods Merchant, as ‘Pattern and shape of flower bowl’.

Fred.

[Jim Sapp]

Jenny Thompson (page 135 in ‘The Identification of English Pressed Glass 1842-1908’) describes RD 44546, registered 9 March 1886 by Blumberg & Co. Ltd., London  - Fancy Goods Merchant, as ‘Pattern and shape of flower bowl’.

Fred.

Kinda makes sense, the upturned rim were used for floral displays.

[agincourt17]

From: http://alondoninheritance.com/tag/cannon-street/

“Harold Clunn in ‘The Face of London’ provides us with a view of what the area in front of Cordwainers Hall was like:

“One of these great blocks situated between the Old Change and Distaff Lane was originally occupied by the large German firm of Berens, Bloomberg and Company, dealers in fancy foreign goods of all kinds who came to England shortly after the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars”…  ”.

Fred.

[agincourt17]

More info, this time from:
http://www.mbsi.org/journal/MBSI-1977-23-3/MBSI-1977-23-3-37.pdf

 “The first reference to the firm Berens Blumberg & Co. in the directories appeared in 1829 when it was listed at A O B Berens & Co., Importeres of French fancy articles etc., 21 St. Paul’s Churchyard. In 1830 L. Blumberg had joined Berens and the address was 20 St. Paul’s Churchyard. From 1833 a Paris address was also given: this was 8 Rue de Vielles Audriettes until 1837, and from 1868 was 60 Rue de Bondy.
    In 1861, the firm was listed as Blumberg & Co. (late Berens, Blumberg & Co.), importers of and dealers in French, German and British fancy goods, stationery, cabinet work, perfumery, jewellery, musical boxes, watches, clocks, china, glass, etc., 55 Cannon St. West, and 64 Rue de Bondy. Blumberg & Co. was listed at various addresses in the City of London UNTIL 1886, AFTER WHICH IT DISAPPEARED FROM THE DIRECTORIES” [my capitals for emphasis].

It would appear then that RD 44546 of 1886 was registered right at the end of Blumberg & Co.'s commercial life.

Fred.