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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 65, The Whiteley Galleries

Taperstick

1712-1713 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A taperstick is a type of utensil similar to and usually in the style of various types of candlestick but smaller being about 10 cm high and is used to hold a taper (a thin candle). They usually exist singly and not as one of a pair since one is usually sufficient for the intended use. The socket is sometimes lined with paper in order to hold securely the tall thin taper. The taper, (made of wax and non odorous) was used mainly for melting sealing wax and for lighting candles, tobacco pipes etc., and not as a source of illumination; hence the piece was sometimes called a ‘tobacco candlestick’.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver
Brief description
Taperstick, Britannia silver, mark of Louis Mettayer, London hallmarks for 1732-3
Physical description
Taperstick, silver, facetted octagonal base engraved with a crest, baluster stem and moulded socket.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.5in
  • Width: 2.875in
Marks and inscriptions
  • London hallmarks for Britannia standard silver, 1712-13
  • Mark of Louis Mettayer
  • Engraved with a crest (unidentified), out of a coronet, a demi unicorn between two feathers.
Credit line
Bequeathed by W. J. Johnson
Object history
Bequest - W J Johnson
Acquisition RF: 44 / 505
Subjects depicted
Summary
A taperstick is a type of utensil similar to and usually in the style of various types of candlestick but smaller being about 10 cm high and is used to hold a taper (a thin candle). They usually exist singly and not as one of a pair since one is usually sufficient for the intended use. The socket is sometimes lined with paper in order to hold securely the tall thin taper. The taper, (made of wax and non odorous) was used mainly for melting sealing wax and for lighting candles, tobacco pipes etc., and not as a source of illumination; hence the piece was sometimes called a ‘tobacco candlestick’.
Collection
Accession number
M.1732-1944

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Record createdSeptember 10, 2004
Record URL
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