Related person Bill Cunningham (1929 - 2016)

Hanging lantern

20th century

Place made, probablyFrance

Glass, metal

Overall: 14 × 5 1/4 × 3 3/4 in. (35.6 × 13.3 × 9.5 cm)

Gift of Mary Hilliard

2019.5.3

This is one of several lanterns that hung in a large window in New York Times fashion photographer Bill Cunningham’s Carnegie Hall Studio. Cunningham purchased this lantern, along with several others, at a flea market in Paris during one of his fashion week trips. Their cobalt color was immediately attractive to Cunningham, who was known for his love of blue. The lanterns were featured in the film Bill Cunningham New York, and have become emblematic of the beloved fashion photographer.

DescriptionHanging glass lantern with metal and wire hardware: teardrop-shaped cobalt blue glass lantern has narrow neck and broad everted rim, and metal hardware to facilitate hanging; hardware consists of seamed metal band underneath rim and around neck, with extended wire armatures decorated with applied metal leaves that terminate at a metal cap with attached link chain and hook.

ClassificationsHOUSEHOLD TOOLS & EQUIPMENT