Description

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.

Marks. Stamped underneath with a full set of English silver hallmarks and scratch weight “8=5”. Owners initials “I.M” engraved below the handle.

*Britannia Standard. During 1696-1720 silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent purity. 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.

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 The earliest examples have straight handles (first flat, then tubular) which were superseded in the first part of the 18th century by a ring or flying handle.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

This superb early 18th century silver chamberstick is in very good condition. Very heavy quality and superb colour. Crisp engraving. Moderate signs of wear commensurate with age.

Maker: Joseph Bird

Joseph Bird (active before 1685, died 1735), London silversmith, free of the Brewers Company sometime prior to 1685. Largeworker. He entered 2 undated marks circa 1697 at the address in Foster Lane where he continued to work throughout his career. 3rd mark no date or address attributed. 4th (sterling) 1724. Some of his marks incorporate a little bird which is very charming. Joseph Bird was a specialist candlestick maker who passed down his skills to his apprentice David Green and through Green to James Gould who in turn was master to John Cafe. A worthy line of distinguished candlestick makers.

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