Tongs And Plateau, 1700

Mouchette and her tray, silver and engraved metal (wear to silvering), early eighteenth century. The tray of the present mouchette a regular cutting profile, geometric, at regular angles, whose shapes are fashionable in the late seventeenth century (Louis XIV) in the early eighteenth century (Regency period) until about 1720. The decor plate consists of a lattice-bottomed pointed frieze whose taste is essentially requires the same period. Against this background is regularly second acanthus leaves compartments and burnished moldings. Decorative trophies adorn the sides. A small grip moves the whole. The mouchette based on two altars. The pair of tongs has a setting similar to that of the plate. A pair of tongs is a kind of scissors, metal, provided on one of the blades of a small receptacle for collecting the cut side and charred wick of a candle, to prevent it smokes or turns off. The word "tongs" comes directly from the verb "nose", the action that arises is "snuffing a candle." Candles are do not blow your nose, it is only candles. A candle consists of a wick, which is hemp and later cotton; it is molded in tallow. Tallow consists of animal fat, a pasty material, then it was mixed with the flour to make the work. Once molded, dry candle in the open air and hardens. Once lit candle, a beautiful light illuminates the room. But the flame after some time, becomes less intense and the wick, sooty (black and soiled with soot), smoke. Tallow is often faster than the wick bottom is not burnt and not shortened, the charred wick and the flame is extinguished. To resume the flame intensity and the tallow does not flow, remove the midge, that is to say the end of the candle (Francis Englishman Dictionary, A.Boyer 1792). Thus, every 20 to 30 minutes, it was snuffing candle! Dim. (H x W x D). 20.5 x 9 x 6 cm. Wear old silvering.