Snuffer
early 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Snuffers were first invented to cut off and retain the burned wicks of candles when the wax around them had melted; they were not necessarily used to extinguish the candle's flame. The pointed end was for retrieving the tip of the wick if it fell into molten wax. They are first recorded in the 15th century and numerous patents for snuffers are known from the middle of the 18th century, regularly reappearing with new improvements until 1840 when candles that completely consumed their wicks were first developed, rendering snuffers superfluous.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Sheffield plate |
| Brief description | Snuffers, Sheffield plate, early 19th century, English |
| Physical description | Cylindrical box with a pointed finial on the end; loop handles with a forked stem enclosed in each. On three feet. Marked WILLMORES & WILKESS PATENT. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Credit line | Given by J. H. Fitzhenry |
| Production | Reason For Production: Retail |
| Summary | Snuffers were first invented to cut off and retain the burned wicks of candles when the wax around them had melted; they were not necessarily used to extinguish the candle's flame. The pointed end was for retrieving the tip of the wick if it fell into molten wax. They are first recorded in the 15th century and numerous patents for snuffers are known from the middle of the 18th century, regularly reappearing with new improvements until 1840 when candles that completely consumed their wicks were first developed, rendering snuffers superfluous. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 168-1907 |
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| Record created | September 23, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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