Grease Lamp c. 1938

Nicholas Amantea created this watercolor called "Grease Lamp," though its exact date remains unconfirmed. Amantea, born in 1900, lived through an era of immense technological change. As electric lighting became more accessible, objects like this grease lamp transitioned from essential tools to historical artifacts. This simple lamp speaks volumes about labor and domestic life before the conveniences of modernity. It prompts us to consider the experiences of those, often women and marginalized communities, who relied on such humble devices to illuminate their homes and workspaces. What stories would this lamp tell if it could speak? Its presence today invites us to reflect on the relationship between progress, memory, and the objects that connect us to the past.