{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O77632"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O77632/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT4848/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT4848/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT4848","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O77632/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O77632","accessionNumber":"4789-1901","objectType":"Candlestick","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>A painting of an English drawing room shows a pair of these griffin candlesticks set out on a marble chimneypiece, one at each end and facing one another. The painting probably accurately shows how they were intended to be used.<br><br><b>Design & Designing</b><br>The candlestick copies an ormolu (gilt bronze) one designed by the architect Sir William Chambers for a client. Chambers lent Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) a lead or carved-wood casting model of the candlestick, but Wedgwood had to have this remade for reproduction in pottery. In 1771 he wrote that 'the Griffin Candlestick is alter'd sure enough, for Hackwood [William Hackwood, one of Wedgwood's modellers] was oblig'd to new model it. I hope all the world will not have Mr Chambers's Eyes'. Wedgwood had problems firing the candlestick, complaining that 'the tips of the Griffins wings will not stick to the top of the head as ... in the Lead or Wood pattern', and that 'they all fly off' in the kiln.<br><br><b>People</b><br>Sir William Chambers (1723-1796), the King's architect, was an important influence on the design of Wedgwood's ornamental wares. Not only did he did he lend Wedgwood models to copy, but he also advised him on matters of design.","physicalDescription":"Candlestick of black basalt, in the form of a figure of a griffin seated. The socket is decorated with festoons of flowers and is supported on the head and upraised wings of the griffin; round the neck is entwined a garland. The oblong plinth is moulded with conventional ornament in sunk panels.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Chambers, William (Sir)","id":"A8236"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":"after"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Josiah Wedgwood and Sons","id":"A1450"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"stoneware","id":"x30197"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Black basalt","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Stoneware","id":"THES48890"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"CER","id":"THES48594"},"images":["2006AT4848"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"118E (VA)","id":"THES49228"},"free":"","case":"CA8","shelf":"","box":"38"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Candlestick","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Etruria","id":"x33200"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1771","earliest":"1771-01-01","latest":"1771-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"after 1780","earliest":"1781-01-01","latest":null},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"34","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"16.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"base","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'WEDGWOOD'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Impressed"}],"objectHistory":"Based on a design by Sir William Chambers (born in G”teborg,  Sweden, 1723, died in London, 1796)\nMade at Josiah Wedgwood's factory, Etruria, Staffordshire","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Griffin candlestick, black basalt, made at the factory of Josiah Wedgwood, Etruria, Staffordshire, made after 1780","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Young, Hilary (ed.). <i>The Genius of Wedgwood</i>. London : Victoria & Albert Museum, 1995","id":"AUTH354394"},"details":"C23","free":""}],"production":"First made 1771; this example made after 1780","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"griffins","id":"x30123"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nSir William Chambers, like other Neo-classical architects, designed objects for general use as well as buildings and interiors. This type of candlestick, in the form of a griffin, was first made in gilt-bronze  in  about 1767. Wedgwood made a Black Basalt version of it in 1771. Such candlesticks were designed to be shown as facing pairs on mantelpieces.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["4789-1901"],"accessionNumberNum":"4789","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1901,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LM5200","2019LP6795","2019LP3517"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}