Oil Lamp

Q: Can you help me evaluate an old oil lamp? It has a Brunner, Schneider & Ditmar Ltd. seal on the front.

A: Rudolf Ditmar founded a lamp company in Vienna, Austria, in 1840. Branches were opened in Poland and Italy. Gustav and Ferdinand Brunner founded Gebruder Brunner in Vienna in 1857. The two companies joined with Hugo Schneider in 1898 to form United Lamp Burner and Metalware Factories. In 1907 R. Ditmar, Brunner Bros. Ltd. was founded. Your lamp was made between 1898 and 1907. Its extravagant decoration and colorful design make it very unusual for an oil lamp. Price, $200 or more. It might start a bidding fight at an auction.