In the 17th and 18th centuries, betty lamps were a readily available lighting source. The name of the lamp is from the German word besser, meaning better. Betty lamps were an improvement over rush lamps in that they provide more, brighter light. They burned oil (fish, animal or vegetable). The wick was a piece of twisted cotton that sat in the oil and was held in place by the spout. The lamps came with wick picks to pull the wick out farther and keep it burning.
This lamp is hammered brass and has an eight-link chain for hanging it from a bracket or a nail in the wall. The cover is hinged and is shaped like a flat fish. The knob of the cover is a primitive bird.
Betty lamps are a symbol of learning/education, domestic life and is the symbol of the American Home Economics Association.