Queen Anne Antique Silver Castor


Date: 1702

Maker: William Fawdery

Country: England

Stock: 3862

Description

An antique silver muffineer in the traditional lighthouse design and having a bayonet fitting. This lovely piece is of heavy quality and feels good in the hand. The base is simply styled with gadroon borders, the top is beautifully pierced and engraved and there is the original coat of arms engraved to the front.

Weight 10.5 troy ounces.
Height 21 cms.
London 1702.
Maker William Fawdery.
Britannia standard silver.

Marks. The base is fully marked, the top is part marked.

*Britannia Standard silver is 95.8% pure. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent pure. New hallmarks were ordered, “the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia” and the lion’s head erased (torn off at the neck) replacing the lion passant and the leopard’s head crowned. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720. Britannia standard silver still continues to be produced even today.

Biography

William Fawdery

William Fawdery was apprenticed to Robert Cooper in 1683, free 1694. 1st mark (Britannia standard) entered as largeworker 1697. 2nd mark, (Britannia standard) 1720. 3rd mark (Sterling) 1720. Died circa 1727 when Hester Fawdery, his widow, entered her own mark.

William’s younger brother John was apprenticed to Anthony Nelme 1688, free 1695.

Condition

In good condition.

Images