Description:
Brass and copper snuffer marked with crown and the initials "IF." Until the discovery of sterine and a self-consumed plaited wick in the 19th century, candles wicks had to be snuffed or trimmed to avoid smoking and, therefore, wasting their brilliance. Candle trimmers or snuffers are basically scissors with a box attached to catch the wick as it was being trimmed. Each part of this snuffer is sand cast and brazed together; all surfaces are filed smooth, and the top of the box is decorated with wigglework and punchwork on the trefoil ends. The baluster stems are typical of the late 17th century; 18th century snuffers are either completely plain or have rococo scrollwork. The copper rivet holding the two stems together is unusual and may be a later replacement for an original brass rivet. The snuffer probably rested on a matching brass tray (now missing). There is similar snuffer in the Winterthur collection.
Subjects:
Copper; Brass Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+55.161 |
