Antique Lantern Thrift Find/Renovation

I have a thing for lights for some reason, especially old school lanterns! Drove upon an unlisted antique store and saw this gem in the corner.

I don't have pictures of the process, but here is a picture after I replaced all the wiring, porcelain socket, and did some necessary cleaning. Someone had replaced the parts many years ago, and the wiring was wrapped in cloth which, according to what I've been told, dates that renovation back to as late as the early '50s.

I had to be very careful taking things apart. It's made of 3 solid pieces of metal. The interior was rotted and rusted, took about 2 hours soaking in some commercial solution, and a lot of brute torque to get the right things to move. Too much pressure applied too quick, and the top accent piece would have snapped, therefore rendering the entire interior light assembly useless.

I believe the metal is brass. It weighs about 14 lbs, and stands about 16" in height.

Here is the lantern body, next to 1 of the 8 mica sheets that I ordered. I love the look of mica in lanterns. Will make for a perfect decorative piece especially during the holidays, a nostalgic evening writing memoirs, or future storytime with the kids!

Here is the finished lantern assembled with mica. Looks amazing if I say so myself! I'm on the lookout for a certain LED bulb that I've had my eye on, but I used a regular 60w bulb for the photoshoot.

Finally, here's a comparison shot that I took for fun.

Normally I craft furniture and work with wood or stone for fun, either to sell or give away as gifts, but this is my first lantern!

I'm definitely keeping this one.

Hope you enjoyed!