Name 1
OIL LAMP 8
Name 2
/
ID number
002.193.Idrija
Manager / Administrator
Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Center, Bazoviška 2, SI-5280 Idrija
Ownership
Public
Owner
Republic of Slovenia
Local / Original ID Number
/
Type of Object
Mine, Daily life
Description
Short description
The closed type oil lamp, also called ripsovka, repičnica or jamšarica, is a simple lamp. The described sample is smaller, but in a typical pear shape, with a movable opening on the reservoir which served for pouring the rapeseed oil. The front part is equipped with a wick, the back part has a L-shaped holder attached to it. The longer part of the holder is equipped with a round bracket, which has a practical hook attached to it.
Measures
Length 16 cm, width 11 cm, height 10 cm.
Materials
Steel.
Dating
End of the 19th century
Author / Producer
Manufacturer information is not known.
Picture attachments
Original use
The miners used the oil lamp with rapeseed oil burning for going to and out of the pit and to light the area of the ore digging. They also used for private purposes – for various tasks such as bobbin lacemaking and socialising in the evenings. The oil reservoir 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 a slightly better luminance, was achieved by adding kerosene to the oil. The bracket was used for carrying and the nailed tip was used for mounting or fixing the lamp to a wall or a rock crack in a pit. They 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.
Present use
The oil lamp is being preserved, secured and presented as an important monument of Idrija technical mining heritage with exceptional universal values. Visitors can view it within the permanent museum display Anthony's Main Road. It is a part of the presentation that represents the entire story of mining in the Idrija Mercury Mine and with the related work process.
Original location
Idrija Mercury Mine.
Present location
Anthony’s Main Road, Kosovelova 3, SI-5280 Idrija.
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
The object is well preserved. It was restored for the purpose of the permanent museum display. Additional interventions are not necessary. Security of the premises is taken care of.
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
Regular seasonal maintenance.
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses / collections / links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
- CUDHg Inventory Book.
Submitted
Mestni muzej Idrija
Submitted by
Miha Kosmač
Date Submitted
6. 3. 2018
Date Edited
Never