By Thomas Messenger
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An Interesting Pair of William IV Period Bronze Colza Rhyton Lamps Attributed to Thomas Messenger and Now Electrified c.1835
The lamps in the form of classical rhytons with covers and lighting elements, now electrified, in tubes attached to the front of the boars’ heads. These fine lamps were originally intended to be used with wicks and colza oil stored in the urn-shaped reservoirs.
The design of the rhytons is taken directly from a plate in G. B. Piranesi’s highly influential series Vasi, Candelabri, Cippi, Sarcofagi, published in 1778. The rhyton was a classical drinking vessel but the enormous sculptural representation of one reproduced by Piranesi was highly influential on the generation of grand tourists, and would-be grand tourists, of the late 18th century and the design came to be reproduced in many branches of the decorative arts from porcelain versions to bronze and marble reductions and, as in the present example, as designs for lighting.
The use of the rhyton as a colza lamp...
Category
English William IV Antique 1830s Lighting