Betty Lamp
Unknown Artist
1725–75
Medium
Iron
Dimensions
8 x 4 in. (20.3 x 10.2 cm)
Classification
Betty lamp
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Robert W. de Forest, 1933
Accession Number
34.100.192
Art Historical Context
Welcome to The American Wing, where everyday objects from colonial America tell stories of ingenuity and resilience. The *Betty Lamp*, crafted from iron between 1725 and 1775, is a compact marvel measuring just 8 x 4 inches. This humble yet essential household item, gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Mrs. Robert W. de Forest in 1933, exemplifies the practical artistry of early American blacksmiths. Betty lamps like this one were widespread in colonial homes, fueled by animal fat or oil and designed for steady, smokeless illumination. Their simple, hinged mechanism allowed the wick to...