Lot Essay
The Argand lamp was named after its designer the Swiss scientist François Amié Argand (1750-1803). Argand came from a family of silversmiths, jewellers and watchmakers and was deeply interested in distillation mostly associated with wine production. He applied his interest to the problem of oil lamps and through his studies delevoped 'The Argand Lamp' which used a gravity fed resevoir to supply adjustable glass shaded wicks of his own design with oil. He patented this design for a limited period in 1784. Boulton was introduced to Argand by the Birmingham merchant and glass producer William Parker. He was to spend ¨2,000 producing and promoting the lamp. When the patent expired in 1786 Boulton continued to produce the lamp and ignored numerous pleas from Argand that the patent should be renewed. Although the lamp was a success and produced a much brighter and finer light than the previous dirty and odourous oil lamps, Argand died a poor man at the age of 53.