{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O77522"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O77522/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM7462/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM7462/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM7462","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM7459","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O77522/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O77522","accessionNumber":"286-1899","objectType":"Snuffer tray","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>The trays that often accompanied snuffers were used to catch the flakes of dried wax. Snuffers are first recorded in the 15th century and were originally invented to cut off and retain the burnt wicks of candles when the wax around them had melted; they were not necessarily used to extinguish the candle's flame. The point at the end was for retrieving the tip of the wick if it fell into molten wax.  Numerous patents for snuffers are known from the middle of the 18th century, and reappeared regularly with new improvements until 1840, when candles that completely consumed their wicks were first developed, rendering snuffers superfluous.<br><br><b>Design & Designing</b><br>The grand and stately style of this  tray clearly separate it from the delicate formalities of Neo-classicism and  harks back to French Rococo while also anticipating the historical eclecticism of the Victorians. The early 19th-century revival of interest in Rococo plate was partly stimulated by the royal goldsmiths Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, who were frequently commissioned by their royal patrons to add pieces in a consistent style to incomplete sets of Rococo silver, including pieces from the workshop of the 18th-century silversmith Nicholas Sprimont.<br><br><b>Materials & Making</b><br>The decoration of the  tray is stamped and chased in a Rococo revival style, epitomised by the fleshy asymmetrical acanthus leaf ornamentation around the rim. These rims are made of die-stamped silver filled with lead solder and were applied around the edge of tray in order to conceal the copper core of the sheet. This technique prevented the dark copper edge from becoming visible even when worn.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Sheffield plate, with ornament chased and stamped in relief","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Lighting","id":"THES48925"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM7462","2006AM7459"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"122G (VA)","id":"THES49219"},"free":"","case":"CA6","shelf":"","box":"10"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Snuffer tray","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1840","earliest":"1835-01-01","latest":"1844-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by C. B. Farmer","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"29","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"11.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 22/01/1999 by sf","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Probably made in England","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Sheffield plate","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nSheffield plate (silver plate on copper) allowed very elaborate designs to be manufactured relatively cheaply. The complex motifs associated with the French Rococo Revival style could be stamped out by machine. The scrolling edges were stamped out and then filled from the back with lead.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["286-1899"],"accessionNumberNum":"286","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1899,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN0855","2019LP1947","2019LP1326","2019LV2502"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}