posted on January 22, 2002 02:20:05 AM
It looks like half an artichoke and has threads on the inside at the top. It's a heavy metal and may be brass, bronze or copper. It has a 3.25" diameter and is about 2.5" tall. My guesses have things like a lamp top, fireplace andiron cap, and a curtain rod finale but I can not find any other item like this anywhere on the web. Any guess as to what it may be?
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[ edited by bidsbids on Jan 22, 2002 02:22 AM ]
posted on January 22, 2002 07:20:45 AM
Just a guess from what I think. It's a finial cap for a ceiling light fixture. It holds the glass shade on the light. If it's over 3" wide, it's from a very big light.
posted on January 22, 2002 10:16:44 AM
Thanks, that sounds plausible. My very first guess was lamp shade cap to a lamp but the item is quite heavy and that would make it too top-heavy for most lamps. But a ceiling light fixture wouldn't have that problem and would indeed need to be heavy duty in construction to ensure safety.
I have checked Kovel's website and spent at least an hour chasing down leads. Couldn't find the item but I learned all about Louis Comfort Tiffany, art deco, artichoke motiff items, finales, metal casting/forging processes, etc. I love a challenge.
Yes, it really looks like a part to a ceiling light. You could try to fit it on a light at your home to see, since they are all the same thread diameter. Probably worth about 50 cents, but if you put it on ebay you must tell us what you get for it.
posted on January 23, 2002 01:49:38 PM
Things like this are really not worth much until you are trying to find one, and then they are very hard to come up with. Especially if you need a certain one. I would call it bronze because it probably goes with an expensive shade. It could also go on a stained glass lamp to hold the shade in place. Dale
