August 2008

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery acquires two rare Matthew Boulton Argand lamps
After 13 years of waiting, Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery has purchased two extremely rare Matthew Boulton Argand lamps for Soho House Museum in Handsworth.
The two neo-classical Sheffield plate lamps have been on loan to Soho since it opened to the public in 1995. However, thanks to the patience of the lender, and the generosity of the Friends of Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery, the Art Fund and the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the museum has finally been able to assemble the funds to purchase them outright.
Cllr Ray Hassall, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport & Culture commented:
‘ Being able to acquire these extremely rare lamps is fantastic news for the Museum after all these years – and it is especially pleasing to secure them in time for the Matthew Boulton Bicentenary celebration in 2009’

For more information on one of the lamps visit the Gallery section of this website