Stock Photo - Continental: Fluid Lamp, Continental, 19th century, Pewter, Pewter lamps were commonly used in homes, offices, and public buildings during the nineteenth century. This example from Europe has a pedestal base, a bulbous fuel reservoir, two curved wick shafts (missing their glass chimneys), and a screw-on top. The shallowness of its reservoir may indicate that the lamp was designed to burn whale oil, which was liquid at room temperature and could rise up the wick without pressure. The light produced would have been about ten times brighter than a candle, with far less smoke. Kerosene was discovered at midcentury and, being much cheaper, displaced whale oil as the lamp fuel of choice., Overall: 10 5/8 x 5 1/8 x 5 in. (27 x 13 x 12.7 cm)