Candlestick
ca. 1780 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This candlestick imitates the silver styles inspired by ancient Greek and Roman architecture. Such Neo-classical sticks were extremely popular from about 1765. The stem of this candlestick encloses a rod which pushes up to eject the candle. The reddish tone of the metal is due to the high copper content in the brass.
Production of candlesticks wassimplified in the 18th century by the development of casting the stem in one piece using a removable core, a process called hollow core casting. This allowed for a much finer and thinner casting to be made for both the base and the stem. It also encouraged the development of the multi-faceted candlestick form in the early 19th century, which was only made in brass.
The use of hollow core castings changed the method of extraction of the candle stump. The most frequent method of removal in use from the early 18th century onwards was a push-rod extractor, which this example has. It consisted of a disc in the nozzle connected by an iron rod passing through the hollow stem to a brass button under the base.
Production of candlesticks wassimplified in the 18th century by the development of casting the stem in one piece using a removable core, a process called hollow core casting. This allowed for a much finer and thinner casting to be made for both the base and the stem. It also encouraged the development of the multi-faceted candlestick form in the early 19th century, which was only made in brass.
The use of hollow core castings changed the method of extraction of the candle stump. The most frequent method of removal in use from the early 18th century onwards was a push-rod extractor, which this example has. It consisted of a disc in the nozzle connected by an iron rod passing through the hollow stem to a brass button under the base.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Brass |
| Brief description | Candlestick made of brass, one of a pair, England, ca.1780 |
| Physical description | Brass candlestick, the stems enclose a rod for raising the candle. Base and stem of square section with beaded borders and engraved decoration of festoons and plumes; vase shaped socket. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Lt. Col. G. B. Croft-Lyons Bequest |
| Summary | This candlestick imitates the silver styles inspired by ancient Greek and Roman architecture. Such Neo-classical sticks were extremely popular from about 1765. The stem of this candlestick encloses a rod which pushes up to eject the candle. The reddish tone of the metal is due to the high copper content in the brass. Production of candlesticks wassimplified in the 18th century by the development of casting the stem in one piece using a removable core, a process called hollow core casting. This allowed for a much finer and thinner casting to be made for both the base and the stem. It also encouraged the development of the multi-faceted candlestick form in the early 19th century, which was only made in brass. The use of hollow core castings changed the method of extraction of the candle stump. The most frequent method of removal in use from the early 18th century onwards was a push-rod extractor, which this example has. It consisted of a disc in the nozzle connected by an iron rod passing through the hollow stem to a brass button under the base. |
| Associated object | M.455-1926 (Set) |
| Bibliographic reference | Baker, Malcolm, and Brenda Richardson (eds.), A Grand Design: The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: V&A Publications, 1999.
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.455A-1926 |
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| Record created | November 10, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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