lamp

This is one of thrsee known New England Glass Company labeled lamps with black glass bases. There are also three or four with colorless glass bases and the same metal label, all from the same time period. This type of oil lamp with a circular font was called a sinumbra (without shadow) or astral (like a star) lamp, because it had no solid font to cast a shadow. It was developed by the American, Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford and patented in France as a "lampe astrale" in 1809-1810 by Bordier-Marcet. The New England Glass Company of Cambridge, Mass, is the only American firm known to have made these lamps. The few similar one with American markings bear the labels of wholesalers who purchased the parts and put them together in this country. The "BOSTON" on the label refers to the site of the retail store from which the lamp was sold, at 140 Washington St. in downtown Boston.