{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78587"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78587/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM8319/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM8319/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM8319","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O78587/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78587","accessionNumber":"M.46&A-1943","objectType":"Candelabrum","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>Large and magnificent candelabra such as this one were generally used on the dinner table. More lighting was required when the dinner hour moved from the late afternoon to the evening, following the fashion in France for dining later. Candelabra with two or three branches became more common in Britain from the 1770s. Some people were critical of their effect. In <i>The Cook's Oracle</i> (1821), Dr William Kitchener noted that 'dinner tables are seldom sufficiently lighted ... our foolish modern pompous candelabras, seem intended to illuminate the ceiling, rather than to give light on the plates'.<br><br><b>People</b><br>This candelabrum was made by the Birmingham firm of Matthew Boulton Plate Co. as a special order for Perceval, Earl of Egmont. Although Matthew Boulton himself had died in 1809, the business was continued by his son, Matthew Robinson Boulton.<br><br><b>Design</b><br>The simple but elegant design of this candelabrum, using plain surfaces, contrasting gadroon (convex fluting) decoration and elongated forms terminating in urn-shaped sockets for the candles, recalls the work of one of the top London silversmiths, John Scofield, in the 1790s. Such a restrained Neo-classical style had been popularised in the late 18th century by the architect Robert Adam.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Boulton, Matthew","id":"A8168"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, cast and engraved","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Lighting","id":"THES48925"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM8319"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"118E (VA)","id":"THES49228"},"free":"","case":"CA2","shelf":"","box":"28"},{"current":{"text":"118E (VA)","id":"THES49228"},"free":"","case":"CA2","shelf":"","box":"28"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Candelabrum","id":""}],[{"text":"Stem","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Birmingham","id":"x28748"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1817-1818","earliest":"1817-01-01","latest":"1818-12-31"},"association":{"text":"hallmarked","id":"x32454"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Reginald Dyson","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"72.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Engraved with the crest of Perceval, Earls of Egmont","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8877"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Manufactured by Matthew Boulton (born in Birmingham,1728, died there in 1809) at the Soho factory, Birmingham.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nBoulton successfully campaigned for an Assay office in Birmingham  to hallmark silver. It  opened in 1773. Initially silver production increased and Boulton marketed his silver both at home and abroad. Within a few years his efforts to create a large-scale silver business had failed but his factory continued to carry out special orders in silver, like this candelabrum.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["M.46-1943","M.46A-1943"],"accessionNumberNum":"46","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1943,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Candelabrum","Stem"],"assets":["2019LN0948","2019LP9384","2019LP8986","2019LU0272"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}