Pair of Candlesticks
1774-1775 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Candlesticks were essential domestic equipment. Before the 1780s, candles were the chief source of artificial light. Candlesticks could be made of a variety of materials, including silver, pewter, brass, ceramics or glass. They were used all over the house and moved from place to place as required. Candles could be made of tallow (animal fat), bees-wax or spermaceti (whale oil). Tallow was the cheapest of the three. Even in the grandest households the use of candles was limited unless entertaining. In 1774, Lady Leicester at Holkham Hall, Norfolk, was reported to sew every night by the light of a single candle.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 4 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Silver |
| Brief description | Silver candlestick, made in Sheffield, 1774-1775. |
| Physical description | Onje of a pair of silver candlesticks, the fluted baluster shaped stems are decorated with four elongated legs supporting rams' heads which uphold the top, also fluted and ornamented with a fretwork band. The whole rests on a square base receding upwards towards the incurved foot of the stem and is ornamented in relief with rams' heads from which hang festoons. Round the rim of each nozzle runs a wavy band. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by J. Bond Esq. |
| Object history | Acquisition RF: J. Bond Esq Bequest - Bond Neg no.: 13707 |
| Production | GA&Co within a square shield |
| Summary | Candlesticks were essential domestic equipment. Before the 1780s, candles were the chief source of artificial light. Candlesticks could be made of a variety of materials, including silver, pewter, brass, ceramics or glass. They were used all over the house and moved from place to place as required. Candles could be made of tallow (animal fat), bees-wax or spermaceti (whale oil). Tallow was the cheapest of the three. Even in the grandest households the use of candles was limited unless entertaining. In 1774, Lady Leicester at Holkham Hall, Norfolk, was reported to sew every night by the light of a single candle. |
| Bibliographic reference | Turner, Eric, An Introduction to English Silver from 1660 (V&A Introductions to the Decorative Arts), London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1985.
p.23 ill |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 832:1, 2-1890 |
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| Record created | February 24, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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