A History of Claremont in 100 Objects Blog Series #1 “Radiant Therapy Machine”-Mary Garner Hirsch Collection
#1 “Radiant Therapy Machine”-Mary Garner Hirsch Collection by Cooper Crane This is a story about light, medicine, a Nobel Prize winner, and the body. This is a story about how we view our bodies, and how we negotiate and reshape our bodies and physical self. This is a story about heliotherapy. One of the more interesting objects in the Garner House is a strange metallic lamp. Made from a dull nickel, the metal shell is shaped almost like a decanter with a protruding funnel at one end. Standing about three feet in height, it is curiously out of place with many of the other items on display in the house. So, what is this strange object? Heliotherapy lamp at Garner House, Claremont Heritage I write this post sitting next to the lamp, in the same way a person would have done using the device in the early 20 th century. This particular lamp was part of the Garner family’s own daily lives. Our lamp was donated by Mary Garner Hirsch, granddaughter of Herman and Bess Garner,