{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O109465"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O109465/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BU3908/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BU3908/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BU3908","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BU3910","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BU3909","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O109465","accessionNumber":"LOAN:MET ANON.8-2004","objectType":"Sanctuary lamp","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"A silvered brass sanctuary lamp made for use in the private catholic chapel of the Clifton family at Thorndon Hall, Essex, in about 1685.  Hung adjacent to the altar, their constant light signfies the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Sanctuary lamps were made again for private Catholic chapels after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660","physicalDescription":"A lamp of baluster form with two rings at the upper edges for suspension, decorated with acanthus foliage and a cartouche engraved with a coat of arms [3 parts]","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"raising","id":"AAT237068"},{"text":"embossing","id":"AAT53826"},{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"},{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"silvered-brass raised, embossed, engraved and cast","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2008BU3908","2008BU3910","2008BU3909"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"83","id":"THES49711"},"free":"","case":"CA4A","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"sanctuary lamp","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1685-1690","earliest":"1685-01-01","latest":"1690-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Lent by Diocese of Brentwood","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"30.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"20.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Gu, a bend or, between two escallops argent, impaling ar on a bend sable three mullets of the first'.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Engraved with the coat of arms, crest and cypher of Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Clifton of Lytham, Co. Lancaster, who married Thomas, 6th Baron Petre (1633-1707). Mary Clifton died at the English Benedictine Convent in Ghent in 1730 and was buried there in the chapel."},{"content":"No marks","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":"The silvered brass sanctuary lamp was made for Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Clifton of Lytham Hall, Lancaster who married Thomas 6th Baron Petre (1633-1707).  It is engraved with the coat of arms, crest and cypher of Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Clifton of Lytham, Co. Lancaster, who married Thomas, 6th Baron Petre (1633-1707). Mary Clifton died at the English Benedictine Convent in Ghent in 1730 and was buried there in the chapel.\n\nHistorical significance: In Roman Catholic churches, a lamp burns continuously above the altar to signify the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.Before the Reformation, many Cathedrals and abbeys possessed sanctuary lamps of silver. They do not appear to have been ordered for recusant churches until after the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660.\n\nTessa Murdoch, 'Recusant Plate in England' <u>Treasures of the English Church</u>, ed. T. Schroder, The Goldsmiths' Company in association with Paul Holberton, 2008, pp.82-83 figure 94.\n","historicalContext":"Secret Catholicism\r\nAfter the Reformation, the Roman Catholic faith was severely restricted. Catholics who refused to attend Church of England services were known as recusants and until the late 17th century they had to worship in secret. However, the Dukes of Norfolk and aristocratic families such as the Arundells at Wardour Castle encouraged Catholic communities to use their private chapels and so kept the faith alive.\r\n\r\nThe Catholic plate that survives from before the 1660s is mainly limited to chalices, paxes and pyxes. These earlier pieces are rarely marked. After 1688, Catholic plate was more often hallmarked and the range of forms expanded to include sanctuary lamps, cruets and incense boats. \r\n\r\nIn London, Catholics could worship openly in foreign embassy chapels. The silver from the Sardinian Embassy chapel can be seen in the case to the right. During the reign of Charles II, Catholic courtiers could also attend the queen’s private chapel and that of the Queen Mother, Henrietta Maria.\r\n\r\nRecusant families were closely connected by intermarriage. Mary Clifton was brought up at Lytham Hall, Lancashire and married into the Petre family of Thorndon Hall and Ingatestone, Essex.","briefDescription":"A silvered brass sanctuary lamp bearing the arms of Petre and Clifton, made for use in the private chapel of Thomas, 6th Baron Petre and his wife Mary Clifton at Thorndon Hall, Essex, 1685-1690","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Tessa Murdoch, 'Recusant Plate in England' Treasures of the English Church, ed. T. Schroder, The Goldsmiths' Company in association with Paul Holberton, 2008, pp.82-83 figure 94."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[{"text":"Thorndon Hall, Essex","id":"THES277600"}],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"coats of arms","id":"AAT126352"},{"text":"crests","id":"AAT233389"},{"text":"cartouches","id":"AAT10256"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Sanctuary Lamp\r\nSanctuary lamps appeared in Roman Catholic chapels in England after about 1660. Their constant light signified the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. \r\n\r\nThis example in silvered brass is engraved with the arms of Mary Clifton, wife of Thomas, 6th Baron Petre (1633–1707). She died at the English Benedictine Convent in Ghent in 1730.\r\n\r\nEngland, about 1685–90. Silvered brass\r\nDiocese of Brentwood","date":{"text":"22/11/2005","earliest":"2005-11-22","latest":"2005-11-22"}}],"partNumbers":["LOAN:MET ANON.8-2004"],"accessionNumberNum":"8","accessionNumberPrefix":"LOAN:MET ANON","accessionYear":2004,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-14","recordCreationDate":"2005-02-21","availableToBook":false}}