Safety Lamp Tankard

Image Details

Title George Stephenson's presentation gift
Dates 1818
Full Description Presented by subscribers to the Stephenson Safety Lamp Fund.

The inscription reads: "This piece of plate purchased with a part of the sum of 1000 pounds; a subscription raised for the remuneration of Mr George Stephenson, for having discovered the fact that inflamed fire-damp will not pass thro tubes and apertures of small dimensions & having been the first to apply that principle to the construction of a safety lamp, calculated for the preservation of human life, in situations formerly of the greatest danger, was presented to him at a general meeting of the subscribers. Charles John Brandling Esqr. in the Chair. Jan 12th 1818".

George III cylindrical tankard engraved with a contemporary inscription between moulded horizontal bands, the hinged dome cover with shell thumbpiece, applied at the borders, with pronounced gadroons, alternating anthemions and leaf flanked shells at intervals, the simple scroll handle with similar lower terminal.

Hallmarked Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1818, John Robertson and John Watson.
Archive Reference STE/1/2/7