Chandelier
1830-1840 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This chandelier is in the classic Regency taste and works on the Argand system. The principal feature of the Argand lamp was a special burner that consisted of a cotton wick surrounded by concentric tubes. This allowed a double current of air to be drawn through the wick. This greatly increased the size and brightness of the flame and in consequence, increased the illumination that the lighting device gave out. It was also found that a glass chimney improved the upward draught of air and this soon became an essential feature of the light.
People
The Argand lamp was first developed by a Swiss chemist, Aimé Argand (1758-1803), when he was working in France between 1782 and 1784. It gave up to twelve times the light given out by a single candle and was considered by many to be excessively bright and bad for the eyes.
Materials & Making
The chandelier is made of bronze and ormolu (gilt bronze). The fuel used was colza oil produced from rape seed. Because the oil was heavy and thick, a large central reservoir was needed to feed the oil by gravity to the wick.
Argand lamps and chandeliers were popular throughout the 19th century. Both Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) and Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) manufactured them. Because the lamps were so efficient, they were still being made in the 20th century.
This chandelier is in the classic Regency taste and works on the Argand system. The principal feature of the Argand lamp was a special burner that consisted of a cotton wick surrounded by concentric tubes. This allowed a double current of air to be drawn through the wick. This greatly increased the size and brightness of the flame and in consequence, increased the illumination that the lighting device gave out. It was also found that a glass chimney improved the upward draught of air and this soon became an essential feature of the light.
People
The Argand lamp was first developed by a Swiss chemist, Aimé Argand (1758-1803), when he was working in France between 1782 and 1784. It gave up to twelve times the light given out by a single candle and was considered by many to be excessively bright and bad for the eyes.
Materials & Making
The chandelier is made of bronze and ormolu (gilt bronze). The fuel used was colza oil produced from rape seed. Because the oil was heavy and thick, a large central reservoir was needed to feed the oil by gravity to the wick.
Argand lamps and chandeliers were popular throughout the 19th century. Both Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) and Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) manufactured them. Because the lamps were so efficient, they were still being made in the 20th century.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze and gilt bronze, fitted with an Argand burner |
| Brief description | Gilt-bronze chandelier |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
Gilt bronze featured strongly in Regency interiors.This lamp also illustrates the complex combining of motifs that was common at this period. The central oil reservoir is in the form of a classical urn, but the formalised leaves decorating the lamp are Gothic in style, whilst the density of ornamentation is influenced by Rococo designs.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Made in England |
| Summary | Object Type This chandelier is in the classic Regency taste and works on the Argand system. The principal feature of the Argand lamp was a special burner that consisted of a cotton wick surrounded by concentric tubes. This allowed a double current of air to be drawn through the wick. This greatly increased the size and brightness of the flame and in consequence, increased the illumination that the lighting device gave out. It was also found that a glass chimney improved the upward draught of air and this soon became an essential feature of the light. People The Argand lamp was first developed by a Swiss chemist, Aimé Argand (1758-1803), when he was working in France between 1782 and 1784. It gave up to twelve times the light given out by a single candle and was considered by many to be excessively bright and bad for the eyes. Materials & Making The chandelier is made of bronze and ormolu (gilt bronze). The fuel used was colza oil produced from rape seed. Because the oil was heavy and thick, a large central reservoir was needed to feed the oil by gravity to the wick. Argand lamps and chandeliers were popular throughout the 19th century. Both Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) and Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) manufactured them. Because the lamps were so efficient, they were still being made in the 20th century. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.522-1962 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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