A rare pair of Regency gilt-metal picture lamps with reflectors in original fitted case circa 1820, by Hancock and Rixon

the silvered globular reflectors supported by beaded cannisters on scrolled branches and mounted on back plates with gilt-metal foliate rosettes, each lamp numbered 2 and 8 from a series, together with five conforming back plates, six reflectors all in original fitted wooden travelling case inscribed His Grace / The Duke of Devonshire, the interior with original itemised list and Hancock and Rixon trade card, one back plate with blue chalk inscription E. end, R. Adoration

Each of the complete lights has a singe branch and one reflector. All of the items are in very good condition with the surface being slightly tarnished. The box is in fair condition, but the felt lining is torn and partially detached and the exterior is very scuffed and marked. A very interesting lot.
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These grand, highly unusual and very early picture lights were aquired by the 6th Duke. He refers to them in the Handbook, p. 53, when discussing the Drawing Room: for a long time, Lawrence's portrait of George IV was placed, backed always by books, at the West end, and so lit up at night by shaded lamps, that it was an illusion, and the truly loyal would hardly sit down in his presence.

Further examples of these picture lamps remain in the collection at Chatsworth where they are currently employed as wall lights in the South Corridor on the Ground Floor see The House, 2002, p.102.

Hancock, Shepherd and Rixon, listed as having premises at No. 1 Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, were an important firm of lighting manufacturers which originated in the 18th century and achieved great prominence during the first half of the nineteenth century, with special appointments to the Emperor of Russia as well as George III and his family. The firm supplied chandeliers to James Henry Leigh ( 1765-1823) of Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire. Their original account for these chandeliers  describes them as `GLASS MANUFACTURERS' and purveyors of `Elegant Lamps, Lustres, Dessert sets, Travelling Chests, neat Table Glass, etc.' In 1819 the firm, then trading under the name Hancock and Shepherd, supplied a large chandelier to the Marquess of Westminster for the dining room at Eaton Hall, Cheshire, By 1830, they were trading as Hancock and Rixon they were recorded in the Windsor Castle account books as having supplied four large chandeliers for the Grand Reception rooms there at a cost of £92 7s. 1d. ( cf. Geoffrey Beard and Chrisptopher Gilbert ( eds.), Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, 1986, p.393). 

The 6th Duke would have encoutered their work at the principal noble houses and at Windsor where he regularly attended the King. Indeed not only did the George IV employ 'the Duke's Architect' Sir Jeffry Wyattville he also called upon the Duke to overssee the medieval transformation of his castle: an honour he respectfully declined (see J. Lees-Milne, The Bachelor Duke, 1991, p. 64).

The firm of Hancocks in its various forms, were the principle suppliers of lighting to the 6^th Duke.  His account books from 1824 to 1843 show regular payments to them for light fittings to be installed at both Chatsworth and Devonshire House.  They vary in scale but to give some indication of the large amounts spent in this area the invoice in 1828 came to £363. 13s. 7d. and in 1839 £413. 9s. 10d.  The largest sum that has been identified was at Chatsworth in 1843 when the invoice amounted to £1,351. 5s. 10d.