Chamber Candlestick
late 18th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The chamber candlestick, also known as a chamberstick, bedroom candlestick or hand candlestick, was intended to light the way indoors. This example consists of a wide, shallow circular base with raised edge. The deep socket has a slightly moulded nozzle of silvered brass, and the loop handle is scrolled and holds a conical extinguisher. Candles could be made of tallow (animal fat), beeswax or spermaceti (whale oil). Tallow was the cheapest of the three.
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 The industry this material created flourished for about 100 years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s.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 The industry this material created flourished for about 100 years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s.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 | |
Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
|
Materials and techniques | Sheffield plate |
Brief description | Candlestick with extinguisher, Sheffield plate, late 18th century, English |
Physical description | Wide circular base with raised edge; deep socket with slightly moulded nozzle of silvered brass, the handle scrolled, with hole for the conical extinguisher. |
Dimensions |
|
Production type | Mass produced |
Credit line | Lt. Col. G. B. Croft-Lyons Bequest |
Production | Reason For Production: Retail |
Summary | The chamber candlestick, also known as a chamberstick, bedroom candlestick or hand candlestick, was intended to light the way indoors. This example consists of a wide, shallow circular base with raised edge. The deep socket has a slightly moulded nozzle of silvered brass, and the loop handle is scrolled and holds a conical extinguisher. Candles could be made of tallow (animal fat), beeswax or spermaceti (whale oil). Tallow was the cheapest of the three. 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.1044-1926 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | September 25, 2002 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest