Matthew Boulton & Ami Argand, c1800
1995L28

One of Matthew Boulton’s many business ventures was with the Swiss inventor Ami Argand (1750-1803). Argand developed a revolutionary new oil lamp which was not only much brighter but also did not produce the smoke and smell given off by other oil lamps of the period. Argand came to England seeking an manufacturer to assist him in the successful production of his new lighting system and Boulton was one of the obvious choices. Although the venture was fraught with difficulties and legal entanglements, the lamps finally went into production in the 1780s

The technologically advanced new lamps were especially popular in America. Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson owned examples.

Today, most known Boulton Argand lamps are in American museum collections – by far the largest collection being that of the Winterthur Museum in Delaware. There are also several Boulton Argand lamps in the White House in Washington DC.

For a much more detailed account of the Argand- Boulton partnership, see John J. Wolfe’s book “Brandy, Balloons, & Lamps: Ami Argand, 1750-1803” published by the Southern Illinois University Press in 1999.

Acquired with the support of the Art Fund, MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Friends of Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery and Birmingham City Council