Accession Number

984.083.001.002

Description

One of a pair of red transparent glass lustres, each with a round base beneath a long narrow stem decorated in gold topped with a bowl with a gilded scalloped edge, each of the ten scallops with cartouches painted and gilded with alternating floral and Greek key motifs, faceted crystal drops hanging from the underside of the bowl between the cartouches.

Narrative

These attractive 19th Century lustres have an important connection to the Dunsmuir family and they were collected to present the Dunsmuir story at Craigdarroch Castle.  

History of Use

These lustres were used by James and Laura Dunsmuir at their Victoria, BC house (Burleith) from 1891 to 1906, at Government House while Mr. Dunsmuir was British Columbia's eighth Lieutenant Governor from 1906 to 1909,  and at their Colwood, BC house, Hatley Park from 1910 to 1939. They were sold Laura Dunsmuir's estate auction in 1939. An antique dealer named Mrs. Robinson purchased them at that sale and then sold them to Mrs. Muriel F. Little of Victoria in 1940. Mrs. Little sold them to Craigdarroch Castle in 1984.¹

1. Minutes of The Castle Society Board of Directors meeting, January 9, 1985. 

Date

circa 1880

Dimensions

29.5 x 14.5 cm

Material

Glass

Technique

Blown; Fired; Painted; Moulded

Country of Origin

Kingdom of Bohemia