Chandelier
Category
Historic Services / Lighting
Date
c. 1700 - c. 1900
Materials
Glass
Measurements
1524 mm (Height)
Order this imageCollection
Treasurer's House, North Yorkshire
NT 592821
Summary
Eighteen-light glass chandelier arranged in two tiers - six spiral and twelve plain branches and globular stem. Wired for electric lamps.
Full description
This chandelier is believed to contain components from one of the various sets of chandeliers which were presented to York Assembly Rooms from 1732 onwards. The initial "magnificent centre lustre...most curiously carved" was presented by the building's architect, Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington (d.1732), with other sets ordered from London 'glassman' Mr Watson (probably Robert Watson) during the 1730s (see also NT 592803). This would make them (even in remade form) the only survivors from the York Assembly Rooms. The original plan to have 13 chandeliers in the Assembly Rooms was noted as early as in the Gentleman's Magazine for 3rd July 1732 and the scheme seems to have been adhered to, for the History and Antiquities of the city of York published in 1785 records, “from the top of this room descended 13 lustres of crown glass each carrying 18 candles.” During the refurbishment of the York Assembly Rooms in the late 1940s, detailed drawings were made of this chandelier and used to make replicas.Literature : Illustrated (fig 8a) in Macquoid's " Age of mahogany". See also Drake's 'York' p337 and RCHM York V p100.
Provenance
Purchased by Frank Green from a York plumber as "old glass" for £3.00. Identified as being from York Assembly Rooms based upon similarity to 18th century illustrations of the interior of this space and described as such in early Treasurer's House guidebooks (1908 onwards). If so, it is likely to have been removed during conversion of Assembly Rooms lighting to gas in 1840. Given by Frank Green (1861-1954) along with house, garden and contents to the National Trust in 1930.