This lamp was worn on the harness of a mining mule and would have been in use from about 1850-1900. Mules were used in the mining tunnels to haul ore to the surface. Some mules would spend their whole lives underground, even being stabled there. The metal casing surrounding the oil-wick lamp served to protect the mule from the flame.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.