Description

An excellent pair of early English silver candlesticks dating from the early 1700’s. Britannia standard silver*. Very solid cast silver with hexagonal form and baluster columns. Lovely plain style in keeping with the period. Each stick bears a hand engraved coat of arms on the base. Excellent colour.

Weight 941 grams, 30.2 troy ounces.
Height 19.5cm. Base 11cm.
London 1720.
Maker David Green.

Marks. Stamped underneath with a full and matching set of English silver hallmarks.

Literature: Few domestic silver candlesticks still exist before the reign of Charles II. 17th century examples are usually made from sheet silver and are light in weight. Cast candlesticks started to appear circa 1685 and are much heavier in weight. The first loaded candlesticks appeared circa 1765 and are made of sheet, and not cast.

*Britannia Standard. 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. 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.

Signed/Inscribed: Each has the original scratchweight underneath the base.

The candlesticks are in very good condition. The engravings still have good definition with just a little wear.

Maker: David Greene

David Greene, London silversmith, apprenticed to Thomas Gardner 1691, turned over to Joseph Bird, free 1699 or 1700. 1st mark as largeworker 1701. 2nd (sterling mark) 1720. His mark is usually found on candlesticks and tapersticks, as did his master Joseph Bird.

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