Taper Box
late 18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A taper box or ‘bougie box’ was a cylindrical type of box to hold a wax taper coil. The name is derived from the French word for candle, bougie, which is derived in turn from Bougia, an Algerian town which exported wax. This box is an unusual variant in that the coiled wax was enclosed in an openwork, wire mesh cage. The taper was used mainly for melting sealing wax and for lighting candles, tobacco pipes etc., and not as a source of illumination.
Sheffield plate originated, with the discovery in 1742, that bars of silver and copper, in unequal proportions, fused by heating under pressure, could be rolled into sheets of laminated metal and worked like silver. The industry this material created flourished for about 100 years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s.
Sheffield plate originated, with the discovery in 1742, that bars of silver and copper, in unequal proportions, fused by heating under pressure, could be rolled into sheets of laminated metal and worked like silver. The industry this material created flourished for about 100 years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Sheffield plate |
| Brief description | English, late 18th century, copper plated with silver.; Sheffield plate |
| Physical description | Body of flattened globular shape in two halves, formed of open interlaced wirework, surmounted by a cup-shaped nozzle of similar work; circular foot with reeded edge. The upper part, gilt. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Production | Reason For Production: Retail |
| Summary | A taper box or ‘bougie box’ was a cylindrical type of box to hold a wax taper coil. The name is derived from the French word for candle, bougie, which is derived in turn from Bougia, an Algerian town which exported wax. This box is an unusual variant in that the coiled wax was enclosed in an openwork, wire mesh cage. The taper was used mainly for melting sealing wax and for lighting candles, tobacco pipes etc., and not as a source of illumination. Sheffield plate originated, with the discovery in 1742, that bars of silver and copper, in unequal proportions, fused by heating under pressure, could be rolled into sheets of laminated metal and worked like silver. The industry this material created flourished for about 100 years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.119-1912 |
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| Record created | September 17, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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