A GEORGE IV ORMOLU-MOUNTED CUT GLASS CEILING LIGHT

This light with its ogee dish, mounted with an ormolu circlet suspended on chains is of the same basic form as marked examples produced by the Regency lighting specialist William Collins of 227, The Strand (fl.1808-1852), who is best known for his work at Northumberland House for the Duke of Northumberland. The stylised masks to the border are typical of those featured in Rudolph Ackermann's Selection of Ornaments published in 1817.
Tradition has it that this dish light once belonged to Florence Nightingale, OM, RRC, (d. 1912), the famed founder of modern nursing and social reformer. In 1854 she led a group of nurses sent to tend injured troops in the Crimean war, and it was there that she was coined, the 'Lady with the Lamp' on account of her night time rounds of the wards with lamp in hand. Florence had grown up with her sister Frances Parthenope Verney (née Nightingale) at their family home, Embley Park, Hampshire. Amongst an 1874 inventory detailing the contents of the house, to be split between the sisters, is listed a 'Hanging lamp and glass bowl', valued at £3, which could well be this light. At the time of the inventory this light would have retained its internal oil-lamp fitting, making its description as a lamp more accurate, and the not insignificant valuation of it would certainly be in keeping with an object of this quality (Inventory of contents of Embley House, Hants., to be divided between Parthenope Lady Verney and Florence Nightingale..., N111, Verney and Nightingale archive, Claydon House Trust).

We are grateful to the Archivist at The Claydon House Trust for her assistance in the research of this lot.