DESCRIPTION: This is a French Paris-Lyon-Mediterranee (PLM) railway station lantern dated 1901. Many small firms developed the original rail system in France. By 1855, the many original small firms had coalesced into six large companies, each having a regional monopoly in one area of France. One of the six large companies was Paris-Lyon-Mediterranee (PLM). By 1938 rail systems maintained by six separate companies became so inefficient that the French Government nationalized it. The French railway station lantern was made by L. Doraux and is dated 1901. The French railway station lantern is paned on three sides and the candle light shines bright and is protected from wind. The front door is glass paned and has a hook latch and is secured to the sides with the original hinges. The French railway station lantern rests upon 4 brass ball feet. The bottom seating plate on the inside of the lantern is also hinged and can be raised and lowered. The chimney top of the lantern is secured by screw finials that allow the top to be totally removed. The smoke chimney that decorates the very top is copper. The lantern has a back bar and was originally used to hang the railway station lantern. MEASUREMENTS: 23 inches high, 10 ½ inches front to back, and 11 inches wide.

The French railway station lantern is in excellent condition with an age appropriate patina. One of the tiny finials is missing as shown in the photos.