Pair of Chambersticks
late 18th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This is an example of a chamber candlestick, otherwise known as a chamberstick, bedroom candlestick or hand candlestick, used to light the way indoors. The chamber candlestick typically consists of a small flat tray with a handle and a central support for the candle. The handle sometimes supports a small conical candle extinguisher, as here.
The candlestick is made of Sheffield plate – copper coated with silver by fusion. This technique originated with the discovery in 1742 by a Sheffield cutler, Thomas Boulsover (1706–88), 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 The production of Sheffield plate flourished for approximately one hundred years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s.
Matthew Boulton is famous chiefly for his partnership with the engineer James Watt, whom Boulton greatly assisted in the development of the steam engine. But he was also notable for the high quality of the silver, Sheffield plate and other metalwork produced at his Soho factory on the outskirts of Birmingham.
The candlestick is made of Sheffield plate – copper coated with silver by fusion. This technique originated with the discovery in 1742 by a Sheffield cutler, Thomas Boulsover (1706–88), 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 The production of Sheffield plate flourished for approximately one hundred years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s.
Matthew Boulton is famous chiefly for his partnership with the engineer James Watt, whom Boulton greatly assisted in the development of the steam engine. But he was also notable for the high quality of the silver, Sheffield plate and other metalwork produced at his Soho factory on the outskirts of Birmingham.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 6 parts.
|
Materials and techniques | Sheffield plate |
Brief description | Sheffield plate, mark of Soho Works, Birmingham, late 18th century, English |
Physical description | Scalloped tray and nozzle; short baluster stem with plain cylindrical socket; curved handle with leaf ornament; extinguisher terminating in a flame knob. |
Dimensions |
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Production type | Mass produced |
Credit line | The Wolseley Bequest |
Production | Reason For Production: Retail |
Summary | This is an example of a chamber candlestick, otherwise known as a chamberstick, bedroom candlestick or hand candlestick, used to light the way indoors. The chamber candlestick typically consists of a small flat tray with a handle and a central support for the candle. The handle sometimes supports a small conical candle extinguisher, as here. The candlestick is made of Sheffield plate – copper coated with silver by fusion. This technique originated with the discovery in 1742 by a Sheffield cutler, Thomas Boulsover (1706–88), 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 production of Sheffield plate flourished for approximately one hundred years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s. Matthew Boulton is famous chiefly for his partnership with the engineer James Watt, whom Boulton greatly assisted in the development of the steam engine. But he was also notable for the high quality of the silver, Sheffield plate and other metalwork produced at his Soho factory on the outskirts of Birmingham. |
Bibliographic reference | Angus Patterson, "A Timely Acquisition: The V&A's Matthew Boulton Pattern Book, ca. 1779", Journal of the Antique Metalware Society, Vol. 17, June 2009, pp. 58-75, p. 61 ill. |
Collection | |
Accession number | M.241A-1920 |
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Record created | September 24, 2002 |
Record URL |
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