Camphene Lamp c. 1936

Herman Bader made this drawing of a camphene lamp with graphite and colored pencil. The lamp is a utilitarian object. The drawing gives us a glimpse into the material culture of a particular time. Before electric light became widespread, devices like this lamp were essential for everyday life, dictating the rhythms of work and leisure. When was this made? The manufacture and use of camphene lamps peaked in the United States during the mid-19th century, making them important to the economic and social history of this period. Camphene itself, derived from turpentine, was a cheaper alternative to whale oil, though known for its pungent smell and dangerous flammability. The lamp is also an object invested in a history of design. The drawing shows its construction with a keen eye. The drawing is a valuable record of technology. By consulting period trade catalogs, patent records, and household inventories, we can learn more about the social and cultural role of the camphene lamp, and of Herman Bader’s place in the story of its design.