Candlestick thumbnail 1
Candlestick thumbnail 2
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images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 125, Edwin and Susan Davies Gallery

Candlestick

ca. 1860 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This is one of a pair of candlesticks (with Museum Number M.1130-1926) made for use rather than display. Candles were still the dominant method of lighting in the mid-19th century, although oil and gas were becoming more widely used.

People
The architect Philip Webb (1831-1915) originally designed these candlesticks for the designer William Morris (1834-1896) and his wife Jane (born about 1840) to use at their new home. They moved to the Red House, Bexleyheath, Kent, which had been designed by Webb, in 1860. From 1871 Morris rented Kelmscott Manor, Oxfordshire, where both copper and brass examples of these candlesticks can still be seen. Although surviving candlesticks in this design are rare, they were popular with the partners of Morris's decorating firm Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. This pair was purchased from the business by a founder member, the artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898).

Design & Designing
Philip Webb trained as an architect with William Morris at the office of George Edmund Street (1824-1881). He became one of the founding members of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. The decorating firm drew inspiration from the medieval arts of many different countries. The choice of copper as the material for these candlesticks reflects these influences, while their form derives directly from 15th-century examples from Nuremberg, Germany.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Copper
Brief description
One of a pair of candlesticks, designed by Philip Webb, made 1861
Physical description
Candlestick, copper, one of a pair, domed base pierced with squares; large circular drip pan and cylindrical stem; slides with scroll handles.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.5cm
  • Diameter: 17cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 12/05/1999 by Met.Cons.
Gallery label
British Galleries: Copper was considered an inferior metal until it was used by Arts and Crafts designers. The architect Philip Webb was the pioneer who began using it to created the 'commonplace' effect he sought. He designed these candlesticks for Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. in about 1861, charging £1.10s (£1.50p). Versions were bought by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones, both partners in the firm.(27/03/2003)
Object history
These candlesticks, made for Sir Edward Burne Jones, are based on seventeenth century models.
Made for Sir Edward Burne-Jones. Designed by Philip Webb (born in Oxford, 1831, died in Worth, West Sussex, 1915) for Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co., London
Summary
Object Type
This is one of a pair of candlesticks (with Museum Number M.1130-1926) made for use rather than display. Candles were still the dominant method of lighting in the mid-19th century, although oil and gas were becoming more widely used.

People
The architect Philip Webb (1831-1915) originally designed these candlesticks for the designer William Morris (1834-1896) and his wife Jane (born about 1840) to use at their new home. They moved to the Red House, Bexleyheath, Kent, which had been designed by Webb, in 1860. From 1871 Morris rented Kelmscott Manor, Oxfordshire, where both copper and brass examples of these candlesticks can still be seen. Although surviving candlesticks in this design are rare, they were popular with the partners of Morris's decorating firm Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. This pair was purchased from the business by a founder member, the artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898).

Design & Designing
Philip Webb trained as an architect with William Morris at the office of George Edmund Street (1824-1881). He became one of the founding members of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. The decorating firm drew inspiration from the medieval arts of many different countries. The choice of copper as the material for these candlesticks reflects these influences, while their form derives directly from 15th-century examples from Nuremberg, Germany.
Associated object
Collection
Accession number
M.1130A-1926

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Record createdJuly 8, 2003
Record URL
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