Argand Lamp
1835–40
Medium
Gilt bronze
Dimensions
H. 17 1/2 in. (44.5 cm)
Classification
Argand lamp
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of The Wunsch Americana Foundation Inc., 1983
Accession Number
1983.355
Art Historical Context
Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art this elegant Argand lamp, crafted by the Messenger Company around 1835–40, exemplifies early 19th-century American in lighting design. Standing at 17½ inches tall, its gilt bronze construction gleams with a luxurious gold finish over a durable bronze base, a technique that combined affordability with opulence. Such lamps were status symbols in prosperous households, blending functionality with refined aesthetics. The Argand lamp, named after Swiss inventor Aimé Argand, revolutionized illumination in the late 18th and early 19th ce...