26 BULLETIN 141, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



infrequently wished to show what he could do. One of these has 

 a ring base to which three prongs at the lower end of the stem are 

 welded. The drip catcher is large and has a hook extending down 

 from one side, answering as a handle and hanger. (PI. 20, fig. 3, 

 Cat. No. 289432, United States; Anton Heitmuller; 5.6 inches 

 (14.5 cm.) diameter, 9.1 inches (23 cm.) high.) 



CANDLESTICKS OP CAST IRON 



About 1870 cast iron was the medium for many art works. It 

 had, however, only a temporary vogue, although the material, espe- 

 cially in the hands of the Russian artist-artizans, was capable of 

 producing fine results. Among the works in cast iron were candle- 

 sticks generally showing the worst phases of Rococo art. These 

 are regarded with disfavor by collectors and not many find a way 

 into their hands. The specimens shown are German and consist 

 of two candlesticks and two candle dishes, one of cast iron and 

 another of cast brass showing the same class of work and of the 

 same period. (PI. 19, fig. 13, is a candlestick. Cat. No. 300383, 

 Germany; Mrs. C. E. Danforth; 7.1 inches (18 cm.) high.) Fig- 

 ure 12 is a similar specimen without dripcatcher. (Cat. No. 300384, 

 same locality and donor; 6.4 inches (16 cm.) high.) Candle dish 

 (fig. 14), also from the same donor, is a good example of the art 

 overloading of the period. (Cat. No. 300385, 8.1 inches (20.5 cm.) 

 long.) Figure 11 is of heavy cast brass, trefoil design. (Cat. No 

 301540, Germany; Library of Congress; 6.8 inches (17.5 cm.) long.) 



CANDLB DISHES OF METAL 



The candle dish expresses the need of a less formal furnishing than 

 the candlestick. It not only insures the means of carrying the candle 

 about but provides a catch-all for drip as a concession to cleanliness. 

 Candle dishes were made of sheet iron tinned or otherwise, copper, 

 brass, and silver, or silver plate. Plate 19, Figure 4 is a specimen 

 boldly hammered from copper. The handle is pierced for hanging 

 the dish as a sconce. (Cat. No. 317216, Mexico; Harry S. Bryan; 

 4.6 inches (11.5 cm.) diameter.) In contrast is a dainty French 

 candle dish of repoussee silver. (PI. 19, fig. 5, Cat. No. 317637; 

 Mrs. N. L. White; 4.3 inches (11 cm.) diameter.) Figure 6 is of 

 hammered and chiseled brass with saucepan handle riveted on. It 

 is dated 1785. (PI. 19, fig. 6, Cat. No. 168318, England; S. B. Dean; 

 5.5 inches (14 cm.) diameter.) A neatly made specimen of sheet 

 iron crimped on the border is from Nantucket, Mass. It has a ring 

 for the finger. (PI. 19, fig. 7, Cat. No. 129904; F. B. Smith; 6.5 

 inches (16.5 cm.) diameter.) The next figure is an ornate dish of 

 Sheffield plate with an aperture in the stem for snuffers (PI. 37) and 



