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The Melbourne centrepiece

The Melbourne centrepiece
 1839-1840

Medium
silver-gilt
Measurements
(a-m) 122.7 × 64.0 × 64.0 cm (overall) (large candelabrum)
(n-s) 82.2 × 38.9 × 32.8 cm (overall) (male candelabrum)
(t-y) 81.0 × 36.6 × 32.8 cm (overall) (female candelabrum)
Place/s of Execution
London, England
Inscription
(a) punched in left side of base u.c.: (crown / RG) (lion passant) (leopard's head) D (queen's head)
engraved in front l.c.: PRESENTED / TO / Viscount Melbourne. / AS A / MARK OF REGARD AND ESTEEM / BY / Victoria R and Albert. / February 10.1840.
punched in column of right side l.c.: (crown / RG)
punched (vertically) in column of right side l.c.: (queen's head) (lion passant) D
punched in right side of base u.c.: R & S(dot) GARRARD PANTON SI LONDON
(b) punched in rear of shaft l.c.: (crown / RG) (lion passant) (leopard's head) D (queen's head)
punched in underside of candleholder rear left: (crown / RG) / (queen's head) (lion passant)
punched in underside of candleholder rear right: (crown / RG) / (queen's head) (lion passant)
punched in underside of candleholder front left: (crown / RG) / (queen's head) (lion passant)
punched in underside of candleholder front right: (crown / RG) / (queen's head) (lion passant)
(d, e) punched in outside of nozzle c.: (crown / RG)
punched (vertically) in outside of nozzle c.: (queen's head) (lion passant)
(c, f) punched (inverted) in outside of nozzle c.: (crown / RG)
punched (vertically) in outside of nozzle c.: (queen's head) (lion passant)
(g) punched in right side of shaft l.c.: (crown / RG)
punched (vertically) in right side of shaft l.c.: (queen's head) (lion passant) D
punched in underside of candleholder rear left: (queen's head) (lion passant) (crown / RG)
punched in underside of candleholder rear right: (queen's head) (lion passant) (crown / RG)
punched in underside of candleholder front left: (crown / RG) / (queen's head) (lion passant)
punched in underside of candleholder front right: (crown / RG) / (queen's head) (lion passant)
(h, i, j) punched (inverted) in outside of nozzle c.: (crown / RG)
punched (vertically) in outside of nozzle c.: (queen's head) (lion passant)
(k) punched in outside of nozzle c.: (crown / RG)
punched (vertically) in outside of nozzle c.: (queen's head) (lion passant)
(l) punched in shaft c.: (crown / RG)
punched (vertically) in shaft c.: (queen's head) (lion passant)
punched in underside of candleholder u.c.: (crown / RG) / (queen's head) (lion passant)
(m) punched (inverted) in outside of nozzle c.: (crown / RG)
punched (vertically) in outside of nozzle c.: (queen's head) (lion passant)
(n) punched in rear l.c.: (crown / RG) (lion passant) (leopard's head) D (queen's head)
(o) punched in right side of shaft c.: (crown / RG)
punched (vertically) in right side of shaft c.: (lion passant) (leopard's head) D (queen's head)
punched in rear of shaft: 2
punched in underside of candleholder rear : (crown / RG) (lion passant) (queen's head)
punched in underside of candleholder centre : (crown / RG) / (lion passant) (queen's head)
punched in underside of candleholder left side: (queen's head) (lion passant) (crown / RG)
punched in underside of candleholder right side: (queen's head) (lion passant) / (crown / RG)
(p) punched (vertically) in outside of nozzle c.: STG.SIL.
(q) punched (inverted) in outside of nozzle c.: (crown / RG)
punched (vertically) in outside of nozzle c.: (queen's head) (lion passant)
(r, s) punched in outside of nozzle c.: (crown / RG)
punched (vertically) in outside of nozzle c.: (queen's head) (lion passant)
(t) punched in rear of base l.c.: (crown / RG) (lion passant) (leopard's head) D (queen's head)
(u) punched in shaft l.c.: 1
punched in rear of shaft l.c.: (crown / RG)
punched (vertically) in rear of shaft c.: (lion passant) (leopard's head) D (queen's head)
punched in underside of candleholder in rear : (queen's head) (lion passant) (crown / RG)
punched in underside of candleholder c.: (crown / RG) / (queen's head) (lion passant)
punched in underside of candleholder left side: (queen's head) (lion passant) (crown / RG)
punched in underside of candleholder right side: (queen's head) (lion passant) (crown / RG)
(v, x) punched in outside of nozzle c.: (crown / RG)
punched (vertically) in outside of nozzle c.: (lion passant) (queen's head)
(w) punched (vertically) in outside of nozzle c.: (lion passant) (queen's head)
punched in outside of nozzle c.: (crown / RG)
(y) punched (vertically) in outside of nozzle c.: STG.SIL.
Accession Number
D158.a-y-1975
Department
International Decorative Arts
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased by the Government of Victoria to mark the official opening of the new premises of the National Gallery of Victoria at the Victorian Arts Centre on 20th August, 1968
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Gallery location
Not on display
About this work

This monumental three-piece centrepiece was originally presented by Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Lord Melbourne, after whom the city of Melbourne is named, was a close confidant and companion to Queen Victoria prior to her marriage. The engraved inscription reads: ‘Presented to Viscount Melbourne as a mark of regard and esteem by Victoria R. and Albert, Feburary 10, 1840’, the date Victoria and Albert were married. The ornate form of the centrepiece is characteristic of the rococo-revival stlye that was so popular in early- to mid-nineteenth-century England.

Physical description
(a-m) Large candelabrum, for nine lights composed of figures representing the seasons. (n-s) Small candelabrum, triangular, central nozzle with male figures supporting stems/branches. (r-y) Small candelabrum, triangular, central nozzle with female figures supporting stems/branches.