Whale Oil Lamp

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Whale Oil Lamp by an unknown artist depicts a clear glass lamp with a wide, rounded body that tapers towards the top. The lamp has a black screw-top lid with a small handle on the side. The base of the lamp is ornate and made up of several small, rounded protrusions. The base is shaped like a flower or a star with rounded edges. The lamp sits on a plain white background.