Candelabrum
ca. 1771 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Vases were thought most fitting for a saloon or drawing room, where they often performed both a decorative and a practical function. When the Neo-classical style was regarded as the height of fashion, vases were among the most widely used classical ornaments. In this case, both the vases were fitted with candelabra so they could be placed on pedestals and used for lighting.
People
The vases were made by the factory of Matthew Boulton, a specialist producer of gilt-bronze ornaments, in Soho, Birmingham. They were based on designs by Sir William Chambers, architect to George III, and were originally made in 1771 for Mrs John Parker of Saltram, Devonshire. A year later they were acquired by Sir Lawrence Dundas, MP for Edinburgh from 1767 to 1781, for his saloon at 19 Arlington St, London.
Materials & Making
Blue-john was a calcium-based stone quarried in Derbyshire. It was highly fashionable in both Britain and France from the 1740s and was often mounted with gilt bronze.
Subjects Depicted
The plinth is decorated with panoplies (trophies made up of all sorts of weapons) and the vase is supported by three 'Persian' figures. This was a general term of the day for male figure supports, much as female ones were known as 'caryatids'.
Vases were thought most fitting for a saloon or drawing room, where they often performed both a decorative and a practical function. When the Neo-classical style was regarded as the height of fashion, vases were among the most widely used classical ornaments. In this case, both the vases were fitted with candelabra so they could be placed on pedestals and used for lighting.
People
The vases were made by the factory of Matthew Boulton, a specialist producer of gilt-bronze ornaments, in Soho, Birmingham. They were based on designs by Sir William Chambers, architect to George III, and were originally made in 1771 for Mrs John Parker of Saltram, Devonshire. A year later they were acquired by Sir Lawrence Dundas, MP for Edinburgh from 1767 to 1781, for his saloon at 19 Arlington St, London.
Materials & Making
Blue-john was a calcium-based stone quarried in Derbyshire. It was highly fashionable in both Britain and France from the 1740s and was often mounted with gilt bronze.
Subjects Depicted
The plinth is decorated with panoplies (trophies made up of all sorts of weapons) and the vase is supported by three 'Persian' figures. This was a general term of the day for male figure supports, much as female ones were known as 'caryatids'.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Blue-john (fluorspar), with gilt-bronze and silvered copper mounts |
| Brief description | Candelabrum made of Blue John and mounted on ormolu and marble, made in Birmingham, 1760-1770. |
| Physical description | Made from Blue John (Derbyshire fluor-spar), mounted with ormolu on a base of white marble. It has a globular shaped yellow-purple body of the spar supported on the backs of three finely modelled male figures. The raised left foot of each figure resting on the base of the ormolu shaft which supports the bowl in the centre. The triangular plinth of white marble is mounted with plaques chased with trophies of arms. From the sides of the vase above each figure spring scroll foliated branches with nozzles and grease pans of foliage pattern (6 lights for the candelabrum). The corners of the fluor-spar vase are mounted with ormolu and pierced for the burning of perfume. The dome-shaped cover is surmounted by a chased pineapple finial. Within is a silvered metal container for perfume. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
The expensive candle vases made by Matthew Boulton's workshops, in blue-john (fluorspar) and gilt bronze were designed for lavish interiors in the Adam style. They were known in the 18th-century as 'Persian'. This pair probably always stood on these pedestals, in Sir Lawrence Dundas's house in Arlington Street, London, although they were originally made for Mrs John Parker, another Adam client.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Presented by Art Fund |
| Object history | One of a pair of candelabra which came from 19 Arlington Street, the London house of Sir Lawrence Dundas, made in the Soho factory of Matthew Boulton, Birmingham. Made in the workshops of Matthew Boulton (born in Soho, Birmingham, 1728, died there in 1809); the design perhaps advised by Sir William Chambers (born in G”teborg, Sweden, 1723, died in London, 1796) |
| Historical context | A letter in the Assay Office Library in Birmingham suggests that Sir Lawrence Dundas acquired one candelabra at an auction and then ordered a second one to be made to the same pattern. He was a very successful Edinburgh merchant who made one of his fortunes while Commissary General of the Army. He had lavishly furnished homes throughout London, including Edinburgh and London. |
| Summary | Object Type Vases were thought most fitting for a saloon or drawing room, where they often performed both a decorative and a practical function. When the Neo-classical style was regarded as the height of fashion, vases were among the most widely used classical ornaments. In this case, both the vases were fitted with candelabra so they could be placed on pedestals and used for lighting. People The vases were made by the factory of Matthew Boulton, a specialist producer of gilt-bronze ornaments, in Soho, Birmingham. They were based on designs by Sir William Chambers, architect to George III, and were originally made in 1771 for Mrs John Parker of Saltram, Devonshire. A year later they were acquired by Sir Lawrence Dundas, MP for Edinburgh from 1767 to 1781, for his saloon at 19 Arlington St, London. Materials & Making Blue-john was a calcium-based stone quarried in Derbyshire. It was highly fashionable in both Britain and France from the 1740s and was often mounted with gilt bronze. Subjects Depicted The plinth is decorated with panoplies (trophies made up of all sorts of weapons) and the vase is supported by three 'Persian' figures. This was a general term of the day for male figure supports, much as female ones were known as 'caryatids'. |
| Associated object | W.23A-1934 (Set) |
| Bibliographic reference | Tomlin, Maurice, Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture (London: HMSO, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1972) cat. no. A/3. pp. 6-7 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.23-1934 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | September 3, 2001 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
