Design for a Plumed Oil Lamp 1765 - 1795

This is a design for a plumed oil lamp, rendered anonymously in pencil, sometime in the past. At first glance, we see a functional object, but its elaborate plumed design suggests something more than simple utility. Consider the social context: oil lamps were essential for illumination, yet the addition of plumes elevates this object, hinting at a desire for luxury and status. Who might have commissioned such a design? What does it tell us about the aspirations and values of its time? Was it intended for the upper class? Was this ever mass produced? Historians delve into archives, design books, and social histories to uncover answers. By understanding the social conditions that shape artistic production, we gain insight into the complex relationship between art, commerce, and society.