Dekprisma 1897 - Lightbox - Steel, Glass

Rare antique, probably French deck prism in good condition.
The prism has no damage, only imperfections since the glass is from the 19th century.

Deck prisms are glass prisms that were inset flush into the decks of sailing ships. They let concentrated light through to the cabins below deck. The alternative, using lanterns lit by burning oil, could be dangerous on board a ship, but the use of glass prisms helped illuminate the ship below deck without fire risk.

See the last photo (from the internet). This deck prism looks exactly like it and could therefore be from the ship as described below. (the next bit is from the internet and concerns the last photo)

It is believed that this prism originates from the deck of the French hospital ship Saint Paul, which ran aground off the south coast of Iceland near Meðalland in 1899. The Skógar Museum houses many artefacts from this ship, because after the grounding the local population retrieved all valuable items from aboard and sold them at auction.

Dimensions including metal holder: 26.7 x 11.4 cm; total weight 1817 g – Prism: 1039 g

see photos (they are part of the description and condition).

Shipping = Registered