The Makers' Oil Lamp with 10" globe

This limited edition oil lamp from Danforth was released in 2022. As of February 15, 2023, this item is only available in Danforth stores. Please call a store near you if you are interested.

Every few years, Danforth releases a special or limited edition lamp—a unique piece that showcases our artisans' extraordinary talents and marks a special anniversary or event. Only a few of these lamps are made, and while everything we sell is genuinely one-of-a-kind, these pieces rise above as storied pieces of history as well as art.

In keeping with that tradition, Danforth Pewter is pleased to unveil The Makers’ Lamp. This special edition oil lamp, made of handspun pewter and hand-turned wood, is the union of two seasoned Vermont craftsmen at the peak of their careers: Richard Blake and Peter Coffey. Richard, a longtime Danforth Pewter spinner, retired at the end of 2021 after decades as Danforth’s holloware supervisor. Richard's retirement is a milestone in our history, and we are proud to honor it with the release of his most unique design yet.

Richard’s legacy at Danforth is multifaceted. He is known for carrying on founder Fred Danforth’s original spinning technique. He designed the base for our Coastal Oil lamp as well as hundreds of one-of-a-kind lamps. He also created many of our tools, kept our equipment and appliances functioning, and devised a method for hammering pewter safely in large quantities (which led to our popular hammered Jefferson Cup). He has been called “priceless for the company.”

Peter Coffey is a woodworker from down the road in Bristol, Vermont. While wood and pewter are very different materials, in this case, both are mounted on a lathe while the artist shapes or carves it into the desired shape. (Pewter is shaped; wood is carved.) By combining wood and pewter, finding a lovely balance of lines to marry the two into one, the Makers’ Lamp is a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship of Vermont artisans, and a meaningful homage to the Danforth tradition of spinning by hand.  

We hope you will treasure this special lamp, and the meaning behind it, as much as we do. 

Dimensions & Specifications

Height: approximately 18 inches (2-inch tall cherry base, 4-inch tall pewter chamber, 2-inch tall burner, 10-inch tall chimney)

Diameter: 6 inches

Volume: holds 20 ounces of lamp oil (burn time is three hours per ounce)