Object Spotlight: Washington Candlestands
It’s hard to know what caught George Washington’s eye when he purchased a pair of American-made candlestands on Dec. 2, 1759, at a time when he was refurnishing his house with mostly British-made goods.
The stands’ distinctive form, stylish ornament, and relatively inexpensive price of 3.10 pounds may have tickled his fancy. They rise from a tripod base up a stem composed of a series of C-scrolls to a hexagonal candle platform on top. Carved acanthus leaves and shell-like features enhance their elegance.
The stands are among the earliest surviving pieces of documented Washington furniture. Washington had just completed an extensive renovation of Mount Vernon that transformed it from a one and a half story home to a spacious two and a half story mansion, complete with elaborate plaster and carved ornamentation in the parlor and dining room. In a quest to outfit his revamped abode with only the “best,” and the “fashionable — neat — and good,” he ordered the majority of furnishings — furniture, wallpaper, curtains, glass, and silver — from England
Candlestands were typically placed around the corners of stylish rooms to elevate and diffuse light in the absence of a chandelier. When George Washington purchased these stands, he likely placed them in the West Parlor, which was the most richly finished room at Mount Vernon in 1759. He may also have used them in the Small Dining Room, though they would have been less necessary there since candles on the table provided the primary lighting.
The candlestands, which visitors can find in the Mansion today, were made in Fredericksburg, Va., by a Scottish-born cabinetmaker named James Allan. After Martha Washington’s death, the pair were sold for $18 at an estate sale to Dr. William Thornton, the architect best known for designing the United States Capitol. Thornton’s descendants later loaned them to Gonzaga College in Washington, D.C., and then sold them to Hugh, Hazlett and James Alexander Campbell. These three brothers presented the stands to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association in 1887.
Object Spotlight is a regular feature on George Washington Wired that highlights some of the household belongings that Washington came into contact with in his daily life. For more of Washington’s belongings, see Mount Vernon’s eMuseum.
Gift: Hugh Campbell and brothers, 1887[W-1/A-B]
February 11th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
I absolutely love these glimpses into the mind - and soul - of the father of our country. Washington had wonderful taste!