Candelabrum
Candelabrum
1810 (made)
1810 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This candelabrum is one of a set of ten, made for the Conservatory at Carlton House, and were commissioned for the Prince Regent. The candelabra originally had black marble plinths, and held brass lamps with six burners each. Also in the Conservatory were Coadestone statues of kings, bishops and a pilgrim, and a central fountain with eight dragons spouting water into a basin. When Carlton House was demolished in 1827, the candelabra were installed in the Coffee Room at Windsor Castle.
The animal forms and fantastic dragons, along with the medieval Perpendicular style architectural details, are typical of the Gothic Revival.
People
The candelabra were designed by Thomas Hopper (1776-1856). Hopper was an architect and designer, who built up an extensive country house practice. He famously said 'it is an architect's business to understand all styles, and to be prejudiced in favour of none'. The present piece in the revived Gothic taste was for a Conservatory constructed en suite with Carlton House's dining room.
Materials & Techniques
The candelabra were made of Coadestone, a ceramic-type material manufactured by Eleanor Coade (1733-1821), whose family business in London's Lambeth district ran from 1769 to 1833. In 1810 it was trading under the name 'Coade & Sealey'. Coadestone was durable and could be used for outdoor sculpture and architectural ornament with less risk of weathering than natural stone. It was also cast from moulds, and so could be used to reproduce forms. Here, the form of the candelabrum was repeated for the whole set, and the crisp definition of its shape and details show how the surface has remained intact and in good condition.
This candelabrum is one of a set of ten, made for the Conservatory at Carlton House, and were commissioned for the Prince Regent. The candelabra originally had black marble plinths, and held brass lamps with six burners each. Also in the Conservatory were Coadestone statues of kings, bishops and a pilgrim, and a central fountain with eight dragons spouting water into a basin. When Carlton House was demolished in 1827, the candelabra were installed in the Coffee Room at Windsor Castle.
The animal forms and fantastic dragons, along with the medieval Perpendicular style architectural details, are typical of the Gothic Revival.
People
The candelabra were designed by Thomas Hopper (1776-1856). Hopper was an architect and designer, who built up an extensive country house practice. He famously said 'it is an architect's business to understand all styles, and to be prejudiced in favour of none'. The present piece in the revived Gothic taste was for a Conservatory constructed en suite with Carlton House's dining room.
Materials & Techniques
The candelabra were made of Coadestone, a ceramic-type material manufactured by Eleanor Coade (1733-1821), whose family business in London's Lambeth district ran from 1769 to 1833. In 1810 it was trading under the name 'Coade & Sealey'. Coadestone was durable and could be used for outdoor sculpture and architectural ornament with less risk of weathering than natural stone. It was also cast from moulds, and so could be used to reproduce forms. Here, the form of the candelabrum was repeated for the whole set, and the crisp definition of its shape and details show how the surface has remained intact and in good condition.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Candelabrum (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Cast artificial stone (Coade stone) |
| Brief description | Candelabrum, coadestone, in the Gothic Revival style, for the Conservatory at Carlton House, designed by Thomas Hopper and manufactured by Coade & Sealy, English, 1810 |
| Physical description | The top of the candalabrum is carved with figures of monkeys in foliage; the stem has architectural motifs of revived gothic arches. Around the base are dragons with wings outspread, and intertwining necks; between them are figures of a squirrel, a monkey, a mother changing a baby's nappy, and a man and a woman embracing. Beneath are blank shields in decorative cartouches. Inscribed. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'COADE & SEALY LAMBETH.1810' (on the base) |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | One of ten candelabra ordered by George, Prince of Wales, later George IV from Coade & Sealy for the Gothic Conservatory at Carlton House, delivered on 9 February 1811. The total cost for the set was £500. The bills in the Windsor archives show that the candelabra originally had black marble plinths, and held brass lamps with six burners each. Following the demolition of Carlton House in 1827, they were installed in the coffee room at Windsor Castle in 1827, eight of the ten were gilded, and they were all fitted with new oil lamps. Of the ten original candelabra, six went to Leeds Castle about 1970. Bought from Christopher Gibbs, Ltd., for £1.500, by the Central Fund, in 1980. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This candelabrum is one of a set of ten, made for the Conservatory at Carlton House, and were commissioned for the Prince Regent. The candelabra originally had black marble plinths, and held brass lamps with six burners each. Also in the Conservatory were Coadestone statues of kings, bishops and a pilgrim, and a central fountain with eight dragons spouting water into a basin. When Carlton House was demolished in 1827, the candelabra were installed in the Coffee Room at Windsor Castle. The animal forms and fantastic dragons, along with the medieval Perpendicular style architectural details, are typical of the Gothic Revival. People The candelabra were designed by Thomas Hopper (1776-1856). Hopper was an architect and designer, who built up an extensive country house practice. He famously said 'it is an architect's business to understand all styles, and to be prejudiced in favour of none'. The present piece in the revived Gothic taste was for a Conservatory constructed en suite with Carlton House's dining room. Materials & Techniques The candelabra were made of Coadestone, a ceramic-type material manufactured by Eleanor Coade (1733-1821), whose family business in London's Lambeth district ran from 1769 to 1833. In 1810 it was trading under the name 'Coade & Sealey'. Coadestone was durable and could be used for outdoor sculpture and architectural ornament with less risk of weathering than natural stone. It was also cast from moulds, and so could be used to reproduce forms. Here, the form of the candelabrum was repeated for the whole set, and the crisp definition of its shape and details show how the surface has remained intact and in good condition. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.92-1980 |
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| Record created | August 20, 1998 |
| Record URL |
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