Snuffer and tray

1845-1880

Measurements

Snuffer: 1-3/4 in x 6-3/4 in x 2-1/4; Tray: 3/4 in x 9 in x 4 in

Materials

Electroplated silver on copper (tray) and on steel (snuffer)

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.

Accession Number

1971.785

Condition Notes

Four small button-like remnants in the ray corners on the underside of the tray suggest that it originally stood on four legs, which have been cut off.  The plating is worn on the tray and the snuffer

Provenance

Ex coll. Mrs. E. Tatnall (Mary Corbit) Warner

Comments

This tray and snuffer, also called a candle wick trimmer, are made of different base metals that have been electro-plated to give each the appearance of silver.  The copper tray has an ornate gadrooned border. Similar gadrooning appears on the box of the steel wick trimmer.  The thin silver wash has been polished off the inside of the tray.  It appears worn in places on the wick trimmer or snuffer. The electro-plating process was developed in the late 1830s and was put into widespread production by the 1840s. It is still used.  Similarly, the decorative aspects of the tray and snuffer have long been in use.