Candlesticks in the form of Herons holding Fish, probably by Thomas Abbott, England (Birmingham), ca. 1830-1840

Pair of gilt copper-alloy candlesticks. Each candlestick has a stem modelled as heron standing on a rocky surface with a fish in its beak. Attached to the beak is a socket and drip pan modelled in Rococo style. The candlesticks have assembly marks in top of the stem under the drip pan, but no marks of identification of the workshop. Each candlestick has also been drilled for electrical wiring.

Hole Bequest

These candlesticks were probably made by Thomas Abbott, a candlestick and lamp-maker from Birmingham. The herons with fish in their beaks are the less common of two models of wading birds used to form the stems of candlesticks by his workshop. An identical model to this was formerly listed by Patrick Sandberg Antiques in Kensington (www.antiquefurniture.net), with the underside of the rocky base stamped ABBOTT. The other model depicts storks with swivelling necks that allow the candlesticks to be shown as a pair facing each other, or singly with the neck turned to balance it.

Bequeathed to the V&A in 1987 by Mrs T.R.P Hole.

Thomas Abbott was listed as a "Lamp Maker and Brass Founder" of Birmingham in his will dated12 March 1849 (PROB 11/2089/60). He was registered at premises in Park Street (1818), Moor Street (1823, 1829), 24 and 25 Moor Street (1835) and 24 Moor Street (1839).

These candlesticks are in the form of herons with fish in their beaks. The candle socket emerges from the fishes' tails. The candlesticks are unsigned but were probably made in the workshop of Thomas Abbott, a lamp-maker and brass founder in Birmimgham. Abbott produced these whimsical candlesticks as both herons and storks. This pair was drilled by a previous owner so that it could be converted to electricity. The rocky base on other examples has a weighted iron fitting inside the base to make the candlesticks stable. This fitting on other examples bears the signature but is missing on these candlesticks.

M.89-1987