However, and there’s a a possibility that this is just me, I like the idea of things that serve a purpose and look good doing it.
The Missing Wick Mystery
Mine was missing both the wick and the insert, which I later discovered is fairly typical. Those small pieces disappear with time. To be totally honest, if I hadn’t already known what it was, I’d likely have thrown it into a drawer and just assumed that it was some kind of weird vase for a single spaghetti noodle.
But now that I know? I’m looking for something to replace it. So, turns out you can buy wick holders online if you know the size. At worst, I’ll just jury-rig something myself. It will not make its way into museums, but it will make do. This search has made me love my blown glass oil lamps even more.
And I will tell you this: I will light it once. Just to get an idea of what sort of glow it emits. Just to sit in that soft light and fantasize, for a moment, that I’m living in a slower, more peaceful era.
Why You Should Snag One If You See It
Look, I get it. Vintage glass isn’t everyone’s thing. Not everyone enjoys clean lines and smart bulbs responsive to their voice. But blown glass oil lamps? They’re little time machines. You take one in your hand, and suddenly you are holding not just glass but a moment. Maybe it’s that one old movie where they carried a lamp down a creaky hallway, or the memory of your grandparents’ house. Or maybe it’s just the note that light has been something you cultivated, not just something you flipped on.
So the next time you’re perusing the aisles of a thrift store, and you spy something that looks like a champagne flute forged by a wizard, get it. Take it home. Clean it up. Maybe you’ll cast a warm little glow from the past into your modern space with one of these blown glass oil lamps
