Vintage Lignum Vitae Lamp

[Randinko]

I recently picked up this lignum vitae lamp at an estate sale and have a few questions for those in the know.
It is stamped on the bottom “Lignum Vitae Lamp Company” of Long Key, Florida and a date of 1976.
I didn’t make a ‘before’ photo, and the finish was decent but the age created some texture changes in areas and subdued the natural grain, so I stripped it easily with denatured alcohol and 0000 steel wool.

My questions are:
-of all the various varieties of LV should I assume this is native to Florida?
-is this the natural color?
-Recommended finish? After a final cleaning I’m leaning towards a wax or polish just to enhance the grain.

10 inches tall and 10.5 lbs!

thanks for any info and suggestions!

 

[Jonkou]

Very cool… two in one day, how often do you see that. Found this while going through the wood I picked up yesterday. Was sourced from Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard, LV was used in bygone days as main propulsion shaft bearings. Rumor is the wood removed from the SY’s keeping pond back in the 70s is still being stored. Mmmm, gotta get my Son to look into it, he works there.

 

[Mike1950]

Lv I have had is a gray greenish. Especially when it has sat for a while.

 

[Mike1950]

Very cool… two in one day, how often do you see that. Found this while going through the wood I picked up yesterday. Was sourced from Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard, LV was used in bygone days as main propulsion shaft bearings. Rumor is the wood removed from the SY’s keeping pond back in the 70s is still being stored. Mmmm, gotta get my Son to look into it, he works there.

View attachment 257865

I think they used it in dams also. Cool wood.

 

[Jonkou]

Lv I have had is a gray greenish. Especially when it has sat for a while.

If it looks like this you have Argentine Lignum Vitae.

 

[Arn213]

The feathering pattern is a sign of Vera, however the smell alone of lignum vitae will tell you whether what you have is the real deal- it literally smells like old bound books with a hint of vanilla. Very oily. The heartwood range from a light olive drab to almost a dark olive drab.