Antique Victorian late 19th century heavy cast metal ships towing lamp amazing! This incredibly decorative ships lantern would have probably come from a tug boat as a warning light to other ships. It  would now just make an amazing decorative item or candle lamp. It  originally would have had a oil burner inside, now missing ( see pictures not included).
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Lots of age related wear. It has been over painted several times but looks amazing!!! Lovely brass original towing badge and badge to side with numbers etc ( more research may find out boat it was originally on ? )
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30 cm tall 
22 CM round 
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The history of lamps used for ships under tow is part of the broader history of maritime navigational lighting, evolving from crude lanterns to standardized electric lights to prevent collisions. 
Early History
Pre-Standardization: Before formal regulations, individual mariners likely hung basic lanterns or oil-pots in the rigging to indicate their presence to other ships.
Whale and Plant Oils: The earliest lamps used animal fats (like whale oil) or plant fibers for wicks. These were relatively dim and produced a lot of soot.
Early 19th Century: In the early 1800s, some form of navigational lights were used to home on a flagship in a squadron or during specific maneuvers like towing a ship off a reef when there was no wind.
Introduction of Paraffin: Around 150 years ago (mid-to-late 19th century), paraffin (kerosene) lamps were introduced. They offered greater brightness, longer burning times, and were safer because the fuel was less volatile than some alternatives. 
Standardization and Regulation
British Admiralty (1847): The British Admiralty pioneered standardization by establishing a rule that ships must use a red light for the port (left) side and a green light for the starboard (right) side.
Merchant Shipping Act (1854): The UK's Merchant Shipping Act of 1854 made the display of navigational lights mandatory due to the increasing volume and speed of steam-powered vessels.
International Standards: The British standard was quickly adopted by most seafaring nations within a few years. International conferences were held to reconcile differences and create universal rules.
COLREGs: These standards evolved into the modern International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), which are now globally recognized and define the specific lights and shapes (day signals) required for all types of vessels and activities, including towing. 
Specifics of Towing Lamps
The current regulations specify unique lighting configurations for towing operations: 
A towing vessel displays a normal masthead light, sidelights (red and green), and a special yellow towing light above its sternlight.
The towed vessel (if a barge or other non-self-propelled craft) typically displays only sidelights and a sternlight.
Historically, older kerosene lamps were sometimes difficult to spot and could be extinguished in rough seas. Modern LED lights provide much better reliability and visibility. 
The term "towing lamp" is a practical navigation light for safety, a specific type of marine lantern that has evolved significantly in its power source, reliability, and regulatory context over the past two centuries.