Description

A highly desirable pair of antique English silver candlesticks from the early 1700’s with octagonal form and baluster columns. This lovely plain style is fully in keeping with the period. Very solid cast silver. Good patina.

Total weight 677 grams, 21.7 troy ounces.
Height 18.8cm. Base 11.8cm wide.
London 1710.
Maker Thomas Merry I, specialist candlestick maker.
Britannia standard silver*.

Marks. Stamped underneath each stick with a full set of clear English silver hallmarks. There is also a lion’s head erased (rubbed) to each candle sconce.

*Britannia Standard. In 1696, silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent with new hallmarks – “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.

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.

These 18th century candlesticks are both in very good condition. With a small amount of surface pitting and moderate signs of wear commensurate with age.

Maker: Thomas Merry

Thomas Merry I (active 1701-c.1724). Apprenticed to Henry Grant in 1693 and turned over to John Laughton, a specialist candlestick maker in 1695. Thomas married in 1699 before becoming free in 1701. His first mark was entered in 1701 as smallworker. Livery 1712. Churchwarden of St John Zachary 1714. Thomas, like his master John Laughton. specialised in making candlesticks and tapersticks. Many of these were fashioned in the octagonal design popular at the time.

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