Chamber / Taperstick / Snuffer
Browse our collection of antique silver Chambersticks, Tapersticks, Candle Snuffers and Stands, some of which date back to the 17th century.
Silver chambersticks first made an appearance in the 17th century and early examples are now very hard to find. Originally they were made in sets as a household would need many chambersticks. They were used for lighting the way to bed and because of the movement created when they were carried about they needed a large drip pan to catch the wax. The earliest examples have straight handles (first flat, then tubular) which were superseded in the first part of the 18th century by a ring handle. Gradually the design evolved and from the mid 18th century onwards they usually had a matching conical snuffer although from about 1790 onwards some were made with an aperture at the base of the stem to take a pair of scissor snuffers.
Silver tapersticks, averaging about 5 inches high, are miniature table candlesticks used to hold a wax taper. Tapersticks would typically be found on a desk as they were not used for lighting; the melted sticks of wax were used for sealing letters, to give a flame for tobacco pipes or to light large candles. They are rarer than candlesticks and very few existed prior to the Queen Anne period. They usually appear in singles and pairs of tapersticks command a premium price.
The silver wax jack appeared from circa 1775 and was a container or frame holding a long coiled taper treated with wax (sometimes turpentine). The wax was lit to melt the sealing wax used to fasten letters and documents and usually a personal seal was pressed into the hot wax to leave a personal identification. After the wax hardened it was virtually impossible to open the letter without breaking the wax seal. The wax jack could also used as a portable light such as the chamber stick or go to bed.
Silver Candle Snuffers and Stands. Two different types of candle douters were used to extinguish the flame of a candle. The extinguisher which was a small cone on the end of a long handle and the snuffer which was a dual purpose scissor like tool which could extinguish the candle flame and also cut the wick of the candle for reuse. There were few snuffers made prior to 1700 and by the early nineteenth century more refined candles were introduced which no longer required the wick to be cut. Additional information available at http://www.oldandinteresting.com/tallow-candles-snuffers.aspx. Snuffer trays are usually rectangular or oval shaped and can sometimes be raised on feet or have a carrying handle. Some early stands, called standing snuffers, are shaped like a candlestick with a side carrying handle and a hole at the top where the point of the snuffer scissors is inserted – these were very quickly superseded by the flat snuffer tray and scissors. It is rare now to find matching snuffers and base. Snuffers and trays were usually made by different specialists so even though the dates match, the makers will probably be different.
Chamber / Taperstick / Snuffer
Browse our collection of antique silver Chambersticks, Tapersticks, Candle Snuffers and Stands, some of which date back to the 17th century.
Silver chambersticks first made an appearance in the 17th century and early examples are now very hard to find. Originally they were made in sets as a household would need many chambersticks. They were used for lighting the way to bed and because of the movement created when they were carried about they needed a large drip pan to catch the wax. The earliest examples have straight handles (first flat, then tubular) which were superseded in the first part of the 18th century by a ring handle. Gradually the design evolved and from the mid 18th century onwards they usually had a matching conical snuffer although from about 1790 onwards some were made with an aperture at the base of the stem to take a pair of scissor snuffers.
Silver tapersticks, averaging about 5 inches high, are miniature table candlesticks used to hold a wax taper. Tapersticks would typically be found on a desk as they were not used for lighting; the melted sticks of wax were used for sealing letters, to give a flame for tobacco pipes or to light large candles. They are rarer than candlesticks and very few existed prior to the Queen Anne period. They usually appear in singles and pairs of tapersticks command a premium price.
The silver wax jack appeared from circa 1775 and was a container or frame holding a long coiled taper treated with wax (sometimes turpentine). The wax was lit to melt the sealing wax used to fasten letters and documents and usually a personal seal was pressed into the hot wax to leave a personal identification. After the wax hardened it was virtually impossible to open the letter without breaking the wax seal. The wax jack could also used as a portable light such as the chamber stick or go to bed.
Silver Candle Snuffers and Stands. Two different types of candle douters were used to extinguish the flame of a candle. The extinguisher which was a small cone on the end of a long handle and the snuffer which was a dual purpose scissor like tool which could extinguish the candle flame and also cut the wick of the candle for reuse. There were few snuffers made prior to 1700 and by the early nineteenth century more refined candles were introduced which no longer required the wick to be cut. Additional information available at http://www.oldandinteresting.com/tallow-candles-snuffers.aspx. Snuffer trays are usually rectangular or oval shaped and can sometimes be raised on feet or have a carrying handle. Some early stands, called standing snuffers, are shaped like a candlestick with a side carrying handle and a hole at the top where the point of the snuffer scissors is inserted – these were very quickly superseded by the flat snuffer tray and scissors. It is rare now to find matching snuffers and base. Snuffers and trays were usually made by different specialists so even though the dates match, the makers will probably be different.
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1701
Thomas Brydon
9759 William III Silver Snuffer Scissors
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A rare early English silver candle douter, also called a wick trimmer, with the simple plain style typical of the period. *Britannia standard silver. Weight 94 grams, 3 troy ounces. Length 15.9cm. Width 5.5cm. London 1701. Few snuffers were made prior to 1700. Maker Thomas Brydon, see Jackson’s Silver & Gold Marks page 154, a known snuffers and stand maker.
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1711
Joseph Bird
10161 Queen Anne Antique Silver Chamberstick
£4,950
A rare early English silver chamberstick (also known as a go to bed) with the solid design and excellent heavy gauge silver as you’d expect from this date. It has the early form with a flat teardrop handle and a broad drip pan mounted on three small stump feet. The circular base is hand engraved with a coat of arms within a decorative cartouche. Weight 242 grams, 7.7 troy ounces. Diameter 4.5cm. Length 23cm. Britannia standard silver. London 1711. Maker Joseph Bird.
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1713
John Barnard
10158 Queen Anne Antique Silver Taperstick
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A lovely little antique silver taperstick of plain form of plain design with knopped tapering stem and raised faceted foot. This straight lined octagonal shape is a very rare and desirable feature. Britannia standard silver*. Weight 101 grams, 3.2 troy ounces. Height 12cm. Base diameter 6.7cm. London 1713. Maker John Barnard.
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1722
9642 Antique French Silver Chamberstick
£1,475
A good quality antique silver chamber stick of early form having a long flat handle and broad drip pan. With the solid cast design and excellent heavy gauge silver as you’d expect from this date. Hand engraved to the front is an armorial within a decorative cartouche (worn). Weight 217 grams, 6.9 troy oz. Diameter 10.4 cm. Length 22.5 cm. Marked underneath with French silver marks for Paris, date mark “F” for 1746. Maker’s mark indistinct.
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1732
Thomas Causton
9967 George II Antique Silver Chamberstick
£1,550
An early English sterling silver chamber stick (also known as a go to bed) with a simple C shaped handle and reeded rim. Solid design and excellent heavy gauge silver as you’d expect from this date. Weight 256 grams, 8.2 troy ounces. Diameter 13.5cm. Spread 15.5cm. Height 6.5cm. London 1732. Maker Thomas Causton, a known candlestick maker. Sterling silver.
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1754
John Café
10150 George II Antique Silver Taperstick
£950
An attractive antique silver taperstick with hexafoil shell base, rope borders and an intricately shaped stem. Cast silver. Good size and weight. Owner’s initials “W.M” engraved underneath. Weight 180 grams, 5.8 troy ounces. Height 13.3cm. Base diameter 8.7cm. London 1754. Maker John Cafe. Sterling silver.
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1757 - 1759
Jon. Jac. Baur
9926 Antique German Silver Snuffers and Stand
£1,250
This mid 18th century silver snuffer tray is of triangular form and the wick trimmers, of silver and iron construction, fit snugly and precisely onto the shaped platform. Initial “S” engraved to the base of the stand. Weight of stand 118 grams, 3.7 troy ounces. Measures – stand length 21.8cm, width 8.8cm, scissors length 14.1cm, width 5.6cm. German silver marks for Augsburg 1757/9. Maker Jon. Jac. Baur.
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1765
Thomas Heming
10148 George III Antique Silver Chamberstick
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An antique silver chamber stick (also known as a go to bed) of plain design with gadroon borders. Hand engraved with a lion crest to the top of the pan and candle snuffer. Weight 296 grams, 9.5 troy ounces. Height 9.1cm. Diameter 14.6cm. London 1765. Maker Thomas Heming, Principal Goldsmith to King George III. Sterling silver.
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1807
James Turner
9604 Georgian Silver Wax Jack
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A rare antique sterling silver wax jack, or go to bed, of rectangular form. Good plain style and gadroon borders. The central wax winder supports the remains of a coil of wax, the end of which is held in place in the centre of the sconce. The small conical snuffer is attached to the top by a long silver chain. Weight including wax 163 grams, 5.2 troy ounces. Height 11 cm. Base 9.3 x 7.4 cm. London 1807. Maker probably James Turner.
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1810
Paul Storr
10177 George III Antique Silver Chamberstick
£4,150
A fantastic quality antique silver chamberstick with the excellent styling you’d expect from the world famous English silversmith Paul Storr. Plain classic Georgian style with broad gadroon borders, detachable nozzle, and attractive shell thumbpiece. Heavy gauge silver. Hand engraved to the front is an expansive armorial with motto for the Earl of Gosford. Total weight 497 grams, 15.9 troy ounces. Height 10.2cm. Diameter 15.5 cm. London 1810. Maker Paul Storr. Sterling silver.19th century.
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1817
James Scott
10190 George III Antique Silver Chambersticks
£4,750
A fabulous pair of antique Irish silver chambersticks of particularly large size and heavy gauge silver. Plain classic Georgian style with broad gadroon borders, detachable nozzle and snuffer, and attractive shell thumbpiece with a stag crest. Total weight 1211 grams, 38.9 troy ounces. Height 12cm. Diameter 17cm. Spread 18.5cm. Dublin, Ireland 1817. Maker James Scott. Sterling silver. 19th century.
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1837
Robert Hennell I
9963 William IV Antique Silver Chamberstick
£750
A plain styled antique sterling silver chamberstick of octafoil form with matching candle snuffer and candle nozzle. Hand engraved with the matching lion crest. Total weight 287 grams, 9.2 troy ounces. Height 6cm. Diameter of base 15cm. London 1837. Maker Robert Hennell I. Sterling silver
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