Description:
Tin chamberstick with a deep, round saucer base; straight, hollow shaft attached to the round domed center, which has an ejection push-up with oval flat handle extending from a slit on the side, and large upcurved flange or bobeche. The ring handle is attached to the side of the dish; and the cone-shaped snuffer, which hooks to the side of the shaft, is attached to the handle with a brass chain. A chamberstick was designed to be easily moved from place to place, from which to light other candles or a fire. The scroll handle, which replaced the elongated carrying handle in the 1730s, made it easy and stable to carry; the width of the pan and low height of the shaft prevented it from overturning and starting a fire; and the dished base caught candle drippings. Chambersticks were often equipped with a conical extinguisher such as on this example and a scissors-like snuffer.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+P.002 |
