Chinese (I think) older lamp, keywords?

Hi all,

This was $1.99 at the thrift, it is in very rough shape. Possible there is a top piece missing, and there is breakage throughout. Just wondered exactly what it was, figured it was worth the money just as a learning tool or possibly there was a single part with value. Approx 9 inches tall. Thanks for taking a look!

 

Coolio. Yeah, missing a top, I think. The push-button on-off mechanism looks old. Reminds me of the push-button light switches in walls of old houses.

 

There must be similar out there somewhere online. Was just curious what this must have looked like in more complete shape. Forgot to mention that the main section feels like a satiny-glass, but could be stone as well. I don't think jade, but I am not an expert. It seems to be 50+ years old, I was guessing 1920's-50's based on the electrical, but maybe I'll know more when I see others. Thanks!

 

Looks like a nice old incense burner turned into a lamp. There was a time when folks turned crazy things into lamps. Vases, urns, legs.

 

Bev, I think you nailed it. Thanks!

 

It's probably a serpentine or soapstone, and older than the base. How much older...dunno.

 

Thanks. I wish I was better at identifying serpentine/soapstone/jade/glass etc.

The material is "glass-like". I had it in an unheated room next to the house, probably 45-50 degrees in there, and it was ice cold to the touch. Almost colder than glass. It is sort of a slightly rough, dry texture, I always think of jade as being almost "oily" and very smooth and polished, so don't think it is that. Also I get the impression it would shatter into a million pieces if dropped. Don't know if any of that description points to one thing or the other. It was interesting because it was the material itself that caught my attention at the thrift. They had the top piece separate -- .99 and I was carrying it around with no idea of what it was because the material had me intrigued. Then I rounded the corner and found the rest of it.

There is no question its been through the mill, no easy repair here, but enjoying learning about what is what. Thanks!

 

you need to wait for verybrad to weight in i think you might have something there, it is in my opinion in okay shape someone has drilled holes into it to make it into a lamp and it looks like one ring is gone off the top piece ? looks like jade to me .

 

Hadn't weighed in on this since it is not really an area that I have expertise in. That said, here is what I think based on dealing with a lot of old stuff and lighting over the years. ..... Quality doesn't speak to this being jade. A hunk of white jade that size would be saved for something special. My guess would be soapstone but maybe alabaster, serpentine, or similar if harder than soapstone. Will a knife cut into it easily? I do think this older, maybe 40s give or take. I think if much earlier, the carving quality would be better. Obviously, it is in the form of a censer but I doubt if it is much older than the lamp parts. May have always been together. Does appear to be missing a top.

 

chinese carved jade covered censer (from the net )

 

.... from the net ......

The question becomes the source and whether it is reliable. The carving on this one is better but still not top notch. Here is a similar one from Skinner's that exhibits the kind of carving I would expect for fine old white jade. I searched for quite awhile for one with a similar form ......

https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2335/lots/254

 

Oh, wow! I see the simmilarities AND the differences, Brad. Wow. Very instructive.

 

This one could be calcite or serpentine. Calcite was used in Egypt and mistakenly called alabaster as often as not. It's a soft stone and easily carved.

 

it would be a shame if it used to have a top like that and was broken off it does look like it may have been dropped