Introduction
Like all the other Stourbridge glass manufacturers Henry Gething Richardson was approached by Samuel Clarke to create candle lamps that would accommodate his patented candle cup, marketed as a “Fairy Lamp“, for use with his own patented candle, marketed as a “Fairy Light“.
Looking at the design costs many refer to Clarke’s fitting but others accommodate different shaped cups, similar in design to the porcelain cups produced by Royal Worcester or Taylor Tunnicliffe, even though one is labelled “Clarke’s Lamp“; others appear not to require a cup.
Another cup, pattern 10177, has “S. Clarke’s Patent” noted on it but is formed and has hand cutting details executed by Adey. The use of this cup is shown in the photographs of patterns 10319 – 10321 & 3 and on pattern 10415. It seems to be used with flint lamps where perhaps the pressed glass Clarke cup would detract from the overall appearance.
The nomenclature “W.A.” is an abbreviation of White Acid that was used to create a satin finish. Abbreviations are often used and the full text as been substituted in the title block.
The following gallery of designs for candle lamps, commonly known as “Fairy Lamps“, has been compiled from the Henry Gething Richardson pattern books having the Dudley Archive Services nomenclature DTW_2_Y1_5 and DTW_2_Y1_6. These records cover the period 1886 to 1889.
