Punch-tin (or pierced-tin) lanterns were popular in the 18th century due to their functional design. Once the door to the lantern is closed, the punched holes allowed moderate air to pass through the lantern, keeping a candle’s flame alive while also keeping strong winds from putting the candle out. As they did not allow for as much light as other lanterns, these lanterns were believed to be used primarily to transport candles from one location to another.
Most likely hand-crafted, the metal used in this lantern is commonly referred to as tin, but is actually tin plate. Because of this, these lanterns tended to be surprisingly durable, despite the rough treatment they often received. Besides its durability, the punch-tin lantern seen here certainly appears much more whimsical compared to some later lantern designs.
