This really wonderful E.F. Caldwell Neo-classical
Rams Head Lantern was like a lot of the Caldwell fixtures -
a revival of the Period around1840. You would see something
like this not originally electric,in a Greek Revival House for
example.
The interesting detail was somewhat allegorical.
It told the story of what was important to the inhabitants of these
homes in the antebellum period, before Railroad Commerce became
the new Transportation Technology, that moved Goods around
the Country. Before this, most things were moved over Oceans,
Rivers and Lakes. The Wave Pattern on the border, next to the
Rams Heads, was a symbol for travel on water well back to
4000BC and probably before that.
Very nice Bronze Design with Spaghetti Glass.The fixture is
from around 1900 and was originally electric.Has four Sockets that
use Candelabra Bulbs.