Bidspirit auction | Cruisie Lamp or Betty's Lamp

Cruisie Lamp or Betty's Lamp - simple oil lamps traditionally used in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland for light. Using fish oil or whale fat in the wells of the lamps as fuel and a rush in the spout as a wick. Part of Scotland's vernacular heritage. This version has the distinctive Ram's Head design at the top and is made from moulded steel. Steel plates would be hammered into a stone mould to make this integral part of crofting life. Whilst this is a mid 19th Century example many were used as late as the mid 1950s as that when remote parts of Scotland (like Tongue) got mains electrics.