Recognising and understanding the object
- Materials
- metal, wood or clay, glass or another translucent material
- Parts
- body, door, ventilation openings
- Purpose
- Enclose a light source and allow it to be carried.
- Period
- Context of nineteenth- and twentieth-century household collections and historical accounts; individual objects differ in date.
- Place and distribution
- Household lighting described by Alytus Museum.
What it is and how it works
Liktarna is a Lithuanian name for a lantern. Alytus Museum discusses enclosures for candles made from several materials. The defining idea is a body around the flame, with walls that allow light to pass out.
Evidence and examples
Look for a door giving access to the candle and openings near the top for ventilation. Material alone does not determine the name: wooden and metal lanterns can serve the same function. A catalogue can clarify which translucent panels survive and which have been replaced during conservation.
How to identify it
Useful identification photographs show the top, handle and door fastening as well as the front. Check whether the museum identifies the object as a candle lantern or a lamp using another fuel. The broad name liktarna cannot by itself establish an exact date, maker or light source. Its construction is more informative than its picturesque appearance.
