Collections Database

Description:
English wrought iron wax jack or taper jack with a shaped brass finial, ornamental notches on the stem, serrated edges on the holder, round base, and three curved legs ending in ball feet. There is a large coil of wax around the stem. According to Lindsay, "..17th and 18th centuries, the more recent having a pair of spring jaws upon a stem, the latter forming the spool upon which the taper was coiled. Their place was on the writing tables of the 18th century when they were used to melt wax for sealing letters". The wax was a hard, brittle mixture of beeswax, venice turpentine, and shellac that had to be heated, most commonly by these wax jacks and small taper sticks.

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+0309

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