Rare Paint Decorated Carriage Lantern

Circa 1865: It is highly unusual to find early American lighting that retains its original paint and even more unusual to find an example with its original paper label, but stumbling across rarities is what makes the antiques business enjoyable as well as exciting. This interesting 9 7/8"H x 8 1/8"L x 5 1/8"D carriage lantern was patented in 1865 and was meant to function doubly as a carriage lantern and as a traveling foot warmer. Its label indicates that it was manufactured by B. F. Sanborn in Schulyer Falls, New York. The lantern retains its original green ground and red pinstriping and appears to be all original except for two tiny replacement screws in the back and possibly replaced side panes. We have seen another example of this combination carriage lantern foot warmer in red paint; so they must have been made in different color combinations.