Hand gilded Derby pastille burner

Description

Hand gilded Derby pastille burner. Item 3491. The gilding on this Derby pastille burner was all done by hand on a lovely cobalt blue ground. There are four gilt satyr heads spread around the rim of the body, the body supported by four lions paw feet on a canted corner base. The holes between the feet allow air to rise into the body so that the pastilles can burn. The resultant smoke  and perfume then drift out of the holes around the rim of the body and the lid. It stands 140 mm (5.5 inches) to the top of the knop, and the diameter is 115 mm (4.5 inches). The lid has been repaired with the repair showing up on the inside of the lid under ultra violet light and a slight change in the colour of the gilding. There has also been a repair to one corner of the base which had been broken off-this is far more noticeable from underneath. The interior has been darkened by the action of the burning pastilles. It would date from the period 1830-4.

When this burner was made there was a need to cover many obnoxious smells, from the burning of tallow candles, early gas lighting, industrial and agricultural odours and tobacco smoke through to the unwashed bodies and unhygenic habits of the inhabitants of the house. Pastilles were small blocks or cones made from finely ground charcoal bound with aromatic gums and flavoured with aromatic woods, essential oils and other perfumes. They would last for around 15-20 minutes, but that was enough to perfume a room.