A new kind of candletstick
Date
2 September 1663
Creator
Unknown, Artist
After
Christiaan Huygens (1629 - 2006, Dutch) , Natural philosopher
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p198
Dimensions
height (page): 358mm
width (page): 228mm
width (page): 228mm
Description
A figure of a candlestick in the margin of a letter by Christian Huygens to Robert Moray dated 2 September 1663 [N.S.], in which he describes his father Constantijn's description of a candlestick which burns a candle more brightly than two torches together, consumes less wax, emits little smoke and needs no snuffers. The paper was read to the Royal Society on 13 August 1663.
This is an English translation of the original letter in French (EL/H1/21/001) and based on a figure there.
This is an English translation of the original letter in French (EL/H1/21/001) and based on a figure there.
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 13 August 1663, ‘Mons. Huygens presented a paper from his father Mons. Zuylichem, containing a description of a kind of candlestick, by means of which, the candle upon it gives more light than two torches together, consumes less wax, frees from the inconvenience of smoking in the narrowest room, and needs no snuffers. The paper was ordered to be translated from the French, and registered’ (Birch 1:300).
Related fellows
Christiaan Huygens (1629 - 2006, Dutch) , Natural philosopher