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Argand lamp
Matthew Boulton, born 1728 - died 1809 - Enlarge image
Argand lamp
- Place of origin:
Birmingham, England (made)
- Date:
1814-1823 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Matthew Boulton, born 1728 - died 1809 (manufacturer)
- Materials and Techniques:
Sheffield plate with glass funnels
- Museum number:
M.14-1987
- Gallery location:
Silver, room 67, case 8, shelf 2
Object Type
The innovative aspects of the Argand lamp were the cylindrical wick which, when combined with the tall narrow glass chimney to create a draft of hot air, produced up to twelve times as much light than a lamp of more conventional design.
Design & Designing
François Aimé Argand (1750-1803) was a Swiss scientist who invented the circular wick in 1782. This development allowed every part of the wick to be equally exposed to the air, letting the wick burn evenly and more brightly. With a conventional wick, the thicker it became, the more difficult it became for it to burn at the centre.
Trading
Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) was introduced to Argand in 1784 by William Packer, a Birmingham merchant. Argand had only provisionally patented his design through not having sufficient funds to take out a full patent. Boulton, a natural entrepreneur, was fascinated by the ingenuity of Argand's invention and put into production lamps made in Sheffield plate incorporating Argand's design for the wick. But Boulton failed to finance a full patent application and his relationship with Argand ended acrimoniously.
People
The stem of this lamp is engraved with the Arms of Charles William Stewart, 1st Baron Stewart, later 3rd Marquess of Londonderry (died 1854) encircled with the collar of the Order of the Bath. It is most unusual to be able to date closely any piece of Sheffield plate, but since Stewart became Baron Stewart in 1814 and was created Viscount Seeham in 1823, this lamp must have been made between these dates.
