Large Copper Quarter-turned Marine Lantern, Early 20th Century

Beautiful and large marine lantern type "1021" in red copper, bearing on the base a brass plate stamped with the inscription "Anciennes maisons J. Guichard & C. Ouvrard réunies, C. Ouvrard & M. Villars ingénieurs constructeurs brevets SGDE, 74 rue Championnet Paris". This lantern, opening with a cover fitted with a brass handle on the top and two hinges on one side, was electrified to serve as an ambient lighting lamp diffusing through a Fresnel lens. Note a small chip on the lens visible in one of the photos. Around 1900, J. Guichard and C. Ouvrard joined forces and among their products were the J. Guichard et Cie system lamps. In 1907, the name changed and became C. Ouvrard et M. Villars and was then established at 74 rue Championnet in Paris. Around 1920, the company moved to 65 rue de la Chapelle in Saint-Ouen. Throughout its existence, the company produced numerous lighting systems for the merchant and naval navies, rail transport, automobiles, construction, and hospitals, among others. It is responsible for the equipment of the ocean liner France.