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Perfume burner
Stuart, James 'Athenian', born 1713 - died 1788 - Enlarge image
Perfume burner
- Place of origin:
London, England (made)
- Date:
ca. 1760 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Stuart, James 'Athenian', born 1713 - died 1788 (designer)
Anderson, Diederich Nicolaus (probably, maker) - Materials and Techniques:
Cast ormolu (gilt bronze) on marble plinth
- Museum number:
M.46:1, 2-1948
- Gallery location:
British Galleries, room 118d, case 5
Object Type
This perfume burner is made of cast and chased gilt bronze. It is based on the classical tripods of ancient Greece which were to be found in temples and similar monuments.
Design & Designing
This burner was made by the London ormolu maker Diedrich Nicolaus Anderson (died 1767) to a design by the architect James Stuart (1713-1788). Designs by Stuart for similar perfume burners are to be found in Sir John Soane's Museum in London.
Makers & Making
At the edge of the bowl are three slots. These were designed to take three branches with candle-sconces. A very similar perfume burner at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire, is fitted with branches, and one of the designs by Stuart in Soane's Museum shows such branches. The other design has none, which seems to indicate that such branches were optional.
