almost looks like a fancy bunsen burner from chemistry class.

Wow, now that you mention that, it sort of does!

It's called a follower.....and I'll bet that base would polish up beautifully!...Check a magnet....bet it's brass. And the cranberry shade is not to be sneezed at either.
Linda C

Antiquesilver, I've never heard of this before. So does the candle stick up above the cylinder or is it sort of level with the top of the cylinder? I'm not sure I understand how it would work.

Do you have any idea of the age of the piece?

Linda, will a magnet stick to brass? The shade is really what first caught my eye...but then I saw the base with the fish (or dolphins?). I just loved it.

Use a candle that will fit inside the brass cylinder when it's closed. Remove the top brass piece leaving the spring in the bottom half. Set the candle on the spring, compress, & fit the top brass piece over the top of the candle & lock down. The wick end will be exposed for lighting & it will always be at the correct height.

I'll be interested to hear what others say about the age. I have a pair of large copper lamps like this made in Birmingham England(from a ship maybe?) that I'd like to know more about.

Thank you! I see what you mean now! I was hoping I had a candle that would fit, but all of mine are too large to go down in the cylinder.

I'm also really interested in knowing an approximate age for it. I looked all over, but couldn't find any kind of markings on it.

Small bump hoping for some info on age.

According to a quick google search, there was a patent in 1909 by Bradley & Hubbard for a spring-loader candle holder but this may have been for some variation of the original.

Although much taller, those spring loaded candle holders are commonly used today as altar candles in many churches.

The modern variation use the common hurricane candles and will burn about 4 or 5 hours.

As was mentioned above, the top is removed and the candle is inserted in the top with the wich sticking out through the top opening. As the top is set back in place the bottom of the candle will compress the spring down, then as the candle burns the spring continually pushes the candle to the top of the tube until the entire candle in consumed or someone extinquishes the candle.

I tried using a hurricane candle in it, but it won't fit - the diameter is too large. I'm on the hunt for a smaller candle to use.

Does anyone have any guesses as to the age of this one? I'm thinking this is probably not a modern one, but I don't know how old it might be.

Upon further study of your photos I have come to realize that is not a candle lamp..it is an electric lamp.

Examine the top pusher plate on the spring,,,Notice the green discoloration...Also note that there is absolutely no evidence of any candle wax residue...

That lamp is battery operated...

A flange mount type bulb is inserted into the top brass tube with the glass part of the bulb extending out. The spring is inserted in the bottom brass tube and a AA battery is pushed down into the bottom tube, then the top tube is set on top of the battery and pushed down and locked in place. The light will stay on until you either disconnect the top tube or the battery goes dead, whichever comes first.

You can still buy those type of bulbs at a local hardware store and the AA batteries are available almost anywhere.

Whatever the green actually is, it's all the way down inside the brass tube as well as on the outside. I'm not going to swear it's wax, but it feels like it and I can scrape it off.

If it isn't wax, what else would it be and how do I clean the inside of the tube?

I'll go by the hardware store tomorrow and see if I can find a bulb.

It's wax.....and the dyes in the wax....
Put the brass thingy in a pot of water and boil it.

Wow, I didn't know you could boil brass! I'm going to give this a try and see if the green stuff melts off.

Definitely an old spring loaded push up candle holder- and very nice! look on the web at the smithsonian collection I Just saw a description of the mechanism patented in 1909. if not exact, then very similar.

The candle goes inside and compresses the spring. The top piece is put in place and its lip bears against the top of the candle. The candle must fit the tube and it does not have a taper, but is straight sided.

look up information on a courting candle. They used them years ago and when the candle went out (purpose of the spring) the gentleman had to leave. Just an Idea. I have one but not as fancy as this one,.

I have the same lamp as you do. It is a candle stick lamp that is spring loaded. The same color shade and base. There was a short piece of candle left inside and it gives off a very pretty light. Please email me if you have any questions at delknutson66@yahoo.com thank you

This has been in our family for over 100 years. It still has a ribbed candle inside about 5"5"long. The base is hinged in the middle and top half can be removed so to carry like a torch.