Perfume burner (one of a pair)

1765·Derbyshire spar, tortoiseshell, and wood; Carrara marble base, gilded brass mounts, gilded copper liner·wt. confirmed: 13 × 5 5/8 × 5 5/8 in., 11.6 lb. (33 × 14.3 × 14.3 cm, 5.3 kg)

Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964

Catalogue

Year: 1765
Medium: Derbyshire spar, tortoiseshell, and wood; Carrara marble base, gilded brass mounts, gilded copper liner
Dimensions: wt. confirmed: 13 × 5 5/8 × 5 5/8 in., 11.6 lb. (33 × 14.3 × 14.3 cm, 5.3 kg)
Collection: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Artist: Matthew Boulton

Artist

Matthew Boulton

Design

Matthew Boulton was an English businessman, inventor, mechanical engineer, and silversmith. He was a business partner of the Scottish engineer James Watt. In the final quarter of the 18th century, the partnership installed hundreds of Boulton & Watt steam engines, which were a great advance on the state of the art, making possible the mechanisation of factories and mills. Boulton applied modern techniques to the minting of coins, striking millions of pieces for Britain and other countries, and supplying the Royal Mint with up-to-date equipment.

Soho House

Full artist profile →