Novelty Castle Table Lighter, 1878







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Table Lighter - Motte & Bailey Castle - London 1878 by Stephen Smith - 14.2cm high; 12.8cm diameter plinth; 493g gross weight - AK/7655
This is a superb quality, novelty silver spirit lighter in the form of a motte and bailey castle. This form of spirit lamp would be placed in the centre of the dining table after a meal to light cigars. This particular spirit lamp was originally presented to an army officers’ mess – see below.
The castle tower is topped by three turrets: the central turret covers the spirit reservoir and has a hole down the centre for the wick to protrude and the two side turrets hold lighters which each hold a cloth swab which when doused in paraffin and lit from the central wick will provide a light for individual cigars. The tower has been well modelled with excellent brickwork detail, arrow slit windows, a sturdy door and castellated top rim. It is securely fitted to a black wooden plinth that recreates the earth mound used in motte and bailey castle construction.
This spirit lighter bears an engraved inscription just below the entrance steps that reads:
“Presented to
The Mess 56th Reg’t Pompadours
By Captain W.F. Hillatt Jones
31st December 1872”
William Frederick Hillatt Jones became captain in the 56th Foot in1870 and retired in 1880 with the honorary rank of major. This fabulous spirit lamp is in excellent condition throughout - although the engraving is a little worn.