{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O381406"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O381406/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EK4822/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EK4822/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2010EK4822","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JB3893","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JB3894","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JB3895","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O381406/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O381406","accessionNumber":"M.89-1987","objectType":"Pair of candlesticks","titles":[{"title":"Candlesticks in the form of Herons holding Fish","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"These candlesticks are in the form of herons with fish in their beaks. The candle socket emerges from the fishes' tails. The candlesticks are unsigned but were probably made in the workshop of Thomas Abbott, a lamp-maker and brass founder in Birmimgham. Abbott produced these whimsical candlesticks as both herons and storks. This pair was drilled by a previous owner so that it could be converted to electricity. The rocky base on other examples has a weighted iron fitting inside the base to make the candlesticks stable. This fitting on other examples bears the signature but is missing on these candlesticks.","physicalDescription":"Pair of gilt copper-alloy candlesticks. Each candlestick has a stem modelled as heron standing on a rocky surface with a fish in its beak. Attached to the beak is a socket and drip pan modelled in Rococo style. The candlesticks have assembly marks in top of the stem under the drip pan, but no marks of identification of the workshop. Each candlestick has also been drilled for electrical wiring.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Abbott, Thomas","id":"AUTH333648"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28674"},"note":"Probably.  Thomas Abbot is a known lamp maker and brass founder of Birmingham. Earlier than aesthetic movement but mid-century rococo at least. "}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"copper-alloy","id":"AAT10942"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Copper-alloy, cast and mercury gilt","categories":[{"text":"Household objects","id":"THES48939"},{"text":"Lighting","id":"THES48925"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2010EK4822","2016JB3893","2016JB3894","2016JB3895"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CA001","id":"THES388376"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"CA001","id":"THES388376"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"CA001","id":"THES388376"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"CA001","id":"THES388376"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Candlestick","id":""}],[{"text":"Candlestick","id":""}],[{"text":"Nozzle for candlestick","id":""}],[{"text":"Nozzle for candlestick","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Birmingham","id":"x28748"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1830-1840","earliest":"1825-01-01","latest":"1840-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Hole Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"41","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"14","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"14","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions were taken by SCP on 13.02.15 for <b>Bronze Zoo: A Sculptural Menagerie</b> ","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"These candlesticks were probably made by Thomas Abbott, a candlestick and lamp-maker from Birmingham. The herons with fish in their beaks are the less common of two models of wading birds used to form the stems of candlesticks by his workshop. An identical model to this was formerly listed by Patrick Sandberg Antiques in Kensington (www.antiquefurniture.net), with the underside of the rocky base stamped ABBOTT. The other model depicts storks with swivelling necks that allow the candlesticks to be shown as a pair facing each other, or singly with the neck turned to balance it.\n\nBequeathed to the V&amp;A in 1987 by Mrs T.R.P Hole.","historicalContext":"Thomas Abbott was listed as a \"Lamp Maker and Brass Founder\" of Birmingham in his will dated12 March 1849 (PROB 11/2089/60). He was registered at premises in Park Street (1818), Moor Street (1823, 1829), 24 and 25 Moor Street (1835) and 24 Moor Street (1839).","briefDescription":"Candlesticks in the form of Herons holding Fish, probably by Thomas Abbott, England (Birmingham), ca. 1830-1840","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Roderick Butler, <u>A Study Collection of Marked Domestic Brass and other Base Metalware, c.1600 - c.1900</u>, Catalogue of an exhibition held at Marwood House, Honiton, Devon, 11-22 September 2001, p. 6"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"The National Archives of the UK (TNA)."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Rutherford, Jessica. <u>Temple Newsom Country House Studies No4, Country House Lighting 1660-1890</u>, Leeds City Art Galleries, 1992."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.89-1987","M.89A-1987","M.89:1-1987","M.89A/1-1987"],"accessionNumberNum":"89","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1987,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Candlestick [1]","Candlestick [2]"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-15","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":false}}