Italian lantern from Genoa, ca. 1870

Italian lantern of Genoa, ca. 1870.
Bronze and iron.
Opaline globe.
It has slight oxidation in the iron and signs of wear typical of age.
Measurements: 170 x 77 x 77 cm.

The lantern presents a vertical and hanging silhouette, designed to be suspended by a chain (visible at the top).

The design of this elegant lantern responds to an eclectic aesthetic typical of the second half of the 19th century, combining industrial solidity with classical ornamentation.

The bronze dome is decorated on its edge with a crest of vegetal motifs, specifically stylized palmettes or fleur-de-lis, creating a visual crown that adds elegance and breaks the upper geometry. At the apex, a stepped finial supports an iron arch or stirrup from which the suspension chain starts.

It houses a large ovoid-shaped opaline glass globe. The opaline had the function of diffusing the light (gas or oil, originally) in a soft and milky way, avoiding glare. Surrounding the upper part of the glass, there is artistic ironwork with scrolls and spirals, which soften the transition between the parts.

Two long curved arms descend from the dome ring, embracing the empty space around the glass and joining at the bottom. They converge in a decorated square central block, from which hangs a pinnacle or finial.

Given its provenance and date, this type of lantern probably illuminated the entrance to a palazzo, an interior courtyard or an arcaded gallery. Its sturdy construction suggests that it was designed to withstand the sea breezes and humidity of the Italian port city.