Lot Essay
The form of these colza-oil lamps derives from an engraving for a funerary monument by Piranesi in his Vasi of 1778.
A similar pair was sold by order of the Executors of the late John Tillotson in these Rooms, 29 November 1984, lot 91, and was acquired by the Leeds City Art Galleries, Temple Newsam House. They are engraved with a ducal coronet above the initial N, thought to be that of the 4th Duke of Newcastle, and were probably supplied to him for Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire. Clumber was a mid-18th Century house, but was altered in 1829 by Sidney Smirke, (demolished c. 1938). It is thought that the Newcastle lamps were supplied by Thomas Messenger of Birmingham and London 1826-7 (C. Gilbert and A. Wells-Cole, The Fashionable Fire Place, 1660-1840, Temple Newsam House, Leeds, 1985, cat. no. 76). Another pair labelled Bright & Co. (late) Argand & Co., Bruton Street, was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 17 November 1988, lot 8. A single lamp by Messenger was sold in these Rooms, 6 July 1989, lot 5 and a further similar pair was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 19 April 1990, lot 7.
A similar pair was sold by order of the Executors of the late John Tillotson in these Rooms, 29 November 1984, lot 91, and was acquired by the Leeds City Art Galleries, Temple Newsam House. They are engraved with a ducal coronet above the initial N, thought to be that of the 4th Duke of Newcastle, and were probably supplied to him for Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire. Clumber was a mid-18th Century house, but was altered in 1829 by Sidney Smirke, (demolished c. 1938). It is thought that the Newcastle lamps were supplied by Thomas Messenger of Birmingham and London 1826-7 (C. Gilbert and A. Wells-Cole, The Fashionable Fire Place, 1660-1840, Temple Newsam House, Leeds, 1985, cat. no. 76). Another pair labelled Bright & Co. (late) Argand & Co., Bruton Street, was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 17 November 1988, lot 8. A single lamp by Messenger was sold in these Rooms, 6 July 1989, lot 5 and a further similar pair was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 19 April 1990, lot 7.