Pipe Lighter
late 18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A pipe lighter is a household smoking accessory for lighting a tobacco pipe, by the use of smokeless charcoal, before the introduction of matches. It is in the form of a small brazier, but the hemispherical bowl has no pierced work in the body. Although this example has pierced rims for both the bowl and the foot. The wide, circular tray at the foot would have supported a pair of tongs used to lift a piece of burning charcoal.
Sheffield plate originated, with the discovery in 1742, that bars of silver and copper, in unequal proportions, fused by heating under pressure, could be rolled into sheets of laminated metal and worked like silver. The industry this material created flourished for about 100 years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s.
Sheffield plate originated, with the discovery in 1742, that bars of silver and copper, in unequal proportions, fused by heating under pressure, could be rolled into sheets of laminated metal and worked like silver. The industry this material created flourished for about 100 years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Sheffield plate |
| Brief description | Sheffield plate, English, late 18th century |
| Physical description | A circular tray with reeded edge resting on three tapered feet; the centre in the form of a goblet with spreading lip pierced with vertical slits. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Credit line | The Wolseley Bequest |
| Production | Reason For Production: Retail |
| Summary | A pipe lighter is a household smoking accessory for lighting a tobacco pipe, by the use of smokeless charcoal, before the introduction of matches. It is in the form of a small brazier, but the hemispherical bowl has no pierced work in the body. Although this example has pierced rims for both the bowl and the foot. The wide, circular tray at the foot would have supported a pair of tongs used to lift a piece of burning charcoal. Sheffield plate originated, with the discovery in 1742, that bars of silver and copper, in unequal proportions, fused by heating under pressure, could be rolled into sheets of laminated metal and worked like silver. The industry this material created flourished for about 100 years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.193-1920 |
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| Record created | September 24, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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