Description

An exceptional antique silver wax jack with a scissor action and pierced drip pan. Good early date. Gilded finish. The tall column supports a coil of wax, the end of which is held in place in the centre of the drip pan.

Weight including wax 239 grams, 7 troy ounces. Height 14.8cm. Spread across scissors 12.6cm.
London 1771.
Maker probably Suzanne Barker.
Sterling silver.

Marks. Full silver hallmarks are struck to the underside and a lion passant to the handle – all very clear.

Literature: The Wax Jack 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.

The wax jack is in good condition.The spring action still works ok.

Maker: Suzannah Barker

Susannah (Susanna) Barker, London silversmith. Classified as a smallworker, registering her mark on 25 June 1778. A second mark registered 1789, third later the same year.

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