{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O103548"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O103548/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O103548","accessionNumber":"M.1736:1 to 2-1944","objectType":"Taperstick","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"A taperstick is a type of utensil similar to and usually in the style of various types of candlestick but smaller being about 10 cm high and is used to hold a taper (a thin candle).  They usually exist singly and not as one of a pair since one is usually sufficient for the intended use.  The socket is sometimes lined with paper in order to hold securely the tall thin taper.  The taper, (made of wax and non odorous) was used mainly for melting sealing wax and for lighting candles, tobacco pipes etc., and not as a source of illumination; hence the piece was sometimes called a ‘tobacco candlestick’.","physicalDescription":"Taperstick, silver, facetted octagonal stem engraved with a crest, baluster stem and facetted socket.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Bird, Joseph","id":"A12873"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Britannia standard silver","id":"x30329"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"},{"text":"engraving (incising)","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver","categories":[{"text":"Lighting","id":"THES48925"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"012","id":"THES408866"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"012","id":"THES408866"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Taperstick","id":""}],[{"text":"Nozzle","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1714-1715","earliest":"1714-05-29","latest":"1715-05-28"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by W. J. Johnson","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"11.57","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"7.06","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"116.3","unit":"g","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"106.7","unit":"g","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'B I' in a shaped shield with a mullet below and a lobed shape above for Joseph Bird\nGrimwade 1990 No. 177","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"London hallmarks (Britannia standard) for 1714-15","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Engraved crest (unidentified) an armed arm brandishing a broken spear.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Bequest - W.J. Johnson\nAcquisition RF: 44 / 505","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Taperstick with nozzle, silver, London hallmarks (Britannia standard) for 1716-17, mark of Joseph Bird.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.1736:1-1944","M.1736:2-1944"],"accessionNumberNum":"1736","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1944,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Taperstick","Nozzle"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-05","recordCreationDate":"2004-09-10","availableToBook":true}}