Artifact Spotlight: New Finds

We’ve been working away reorganizing our storage to make way for a new exhibit space on the main floor of the museum and through all the reorganization, we’ve come across more than a few interesting items in the collection! From seed artwork to “health lamps’ this post has got your weekly dose of "WOW!"

Sun-Kraft Wireless Cold-Quartz Ultraviolet Ray Health Lamp

This lamp was created to improve user’s health by exposing them to ultraviolet (UV) light. The therapy was marketed to treat all assortment of ailments from skin problems to ring worm, the common cold to arthritis. The full list of ailments that were thought to be treated with the lamp is listed below.
 The lamp was used by plugging it into an outlet, turning a knob at the base until the lamp warmed up, then positioning the lamp 1-6 inches away from the area being treated. The light bulb contains mercury, which was vaporized during the lamp’s operation to generate ultraviolet light, and a reflector which directed and concentrated the light to the treatment area. The lamp is contained in a carrying case, which also included goggles, the instruction manual, and an advertisement for skin crème to accompany the lamp.

The lamp in use

Charge of misbranding by Sun-Kraft - list of ailments treated with the lamp:

Treatment time varied based on distance from the lamp and what ailment was being treated. Muscular ailments like arthritis required longer treatments of 6 minutes daily and treatments of respiratory illness encouraged the user to direct the lamp away from the face and inhale ozone, declared as a “germicidal agent” produced from the operation of the lamp for 6-12 minutes. According to the users manual that came with the lamp, it was recommended that babies and children use the lamp to help “enrich their system with Vitamin D and thereby build strong resistance to diseases and infections.” The first few treatments with the lamp caused skin peeling, which would eventually decline when the skin became used to the ultraviolet rays and could be reduced by using the company’s skin crème, which was advertised in the users manual. 

Advertisement for the Sun-Kraft lamp

This sunlamp was a 1940’s invention that lasted only a short period, from 1940 until the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act declared it to be a false and misleading device in 1945. (See here for other things that were discontinued for misleading or false information- some of them are pretty wild). Ultraviolet and Violet Light tools were popular around this time period, and we did find a second one during the move, pictured below, produced by the Violet Ray Corp:

Seed Artwork

We have a few particularly large frames in the collection, housed in our Art Room, but when we found one in what will become our new archive space, we had to take a bit of a closer look. It was an oblong wreath with dozens of flowers, leaves, and other greenery. However, after a few minutes we realized that the frame didn't house just any fake flowers: the flowers themselves were made of a variety of seeds and nuts, including corn kernels, peanuts, walnuts, pine cones, pumpkin seeds, acorns, and more. Unfortunately, we don't have any information on who made it, when, or why. Based on the frame and materials used, it can be assumed that it was a Victorian piece, as we have a few other works similar to this one, but with different materials - including human hair. This wreath is currently on display as part of our Victorian Christmas exhibit, which will be on display until the end of December.