002.186.Idrija

Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 9, SI-5280 Idrija

Public

Municipality of Idrija, Mestni trg 1, SI-5280 Idrija

510:IDR;RZ-699

Mine, Daily life

The closed type oil lamp, also called ripsovka, repičnica or jamšarica, is a simple lamp. The described sample has an oil reservoir - storage of a specific form, namely the octagon with concave sides. The movable opening on the reservoir for pouring the rapeseed oil is in the form of an arrow. The head of the opening serves for burning regulation and has the form of a bird. The reservoir has a support band with a hood attached to it. The inner side of it has the shape of a bell and a mining hammer formed on the outer end.

Length 13.2 cm, width 13.2 cm, height 38 cm, mass 78.6 dag.

Brass.

End of the 19th century

Manufacturer information is not known.

According to the special form and material of the lamp, we can assume it was not used in a pit. It was probably used in the office of a higher mining employee. It was later used as a decoration. The oil reservoir – storage had a wick, which protruded out of the opening at the top of the reservoir. A lit wick provided a small flame, therefore the intensity of these lamps was modest. Better rapeseed oil burning, and thus also a slightly better luminance, was achieved by adding kerosene to the oil. The oil lamps were used for more than 400 years. After 1913, they were replaced in the mines by carbide lamps. They used the oil lamps for private purposes for many years – for various tasks such as bobbin lacemaking and socialising in the evenings.

The oil lamp is being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. It is a part of the mine collection of the Idrija Municipal Museum. Visitors can view it within the permanent museum exhibition “Five Centuries of the Mercury Mine and the Town of Idrija”. It can be used for different types of mercury heritage promotions.

Idrija Mercury Mine (personal, working equipment of a miner).

Idrija Municipal Museum, Gewerkenegg Castle (showroom 1).

Before 1995, a conservation procedure was performed on the oil lamp, for the needs of the permanent museum exhibition. Additional interventions are not necessary. Security of the premises is taken care of.

good

Regular seasonal maintenance.

- Inventory Book of the Idrija Municipal Museum.

Mestni muzej Idrija

Miha Kosmač

6. 3. 2018

Never