Description

A good quality antique sterling silver chamber stick with matching candle snuffer. Fixed nozzle. No engravings. Total weight 308 grams, 9.9 troy ounces. Height 11cm. Diameter of base 15.5cm. Spread 18cm. Sheffield 1863. Maker Thomas Bradbury & Sons.

Literature: 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 The earliest examples have straight handles (first flat, then tubular) which were superceded in the first part of the 18th century by a ring handle.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.

Condition. The candlestick is in very good condition. Stamped underneath the pan and on the conical snuffer with set of matching English silver hallmarks. The snuffer has one tiny dink. Please note that this item is not new and will show moderate signs of wear commensurate with age. Reflections in the photograph may detract from the true representation of this item.

Maker: Thomas Bradbury

Thomas Bradbury. This old established Sheffield business originated as Fenton, Creswick & Co (Matthew Fenton , Richard Creswick and William Watson), active silversmiths and Sheffield platers and among the first to enter their mark at the Sheffield Assay Office in 1773. In 1789 it became Fenton, Creswick, Oakes & Co and in 1795, Watson & Co (partners Thomas Watson, James Fenton and Thomas Bradbury I (former apprentice of the firm). Later, Thomas Bradbury II and William Watson were admitted to the partnership. In 1831 William Watson retired and the business was continued by Bradburys (Thomas I and II) under the style of Thomas Bradbury & Son. The firm was active at Arundel Street, Sheffield with London showroom at 12 Gough Square, Fleet Street. The company continued under control of the Bradbury family and successive generations until it closed in 1943 and dies and tooling were bought by Atkin Brothers. Frederick Bradbury is the author of the esteemed "A History of Old Sheffield Plate".

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