ANTIQUE SILVER CANDLESTICKS MEDIUM
Antique Silver candlesticks medium Description:
A type of holder for burning a single candle on the table, often made in sets of two or four.
Antique Silver candlesticks medium History:
Table candlesticks in silver are very rare before 1650. Early candlesticks were made out of sheets of silver with a hollow stem and therefore were fairly fragile. After 1700 candlestick makers started to use casting methods derived from Huguenot silversmiths. After 1760 sheet silver became popular again with the advent of die-stamping and more industrial methods emanating from the Sheffield and Birmingham silversmiths. They were made throughout the Georgian and Victorian periods and are still being made today.
Antique Silver candlesticks medium Design:
The vast majority of designs followed the same basic rules, that of a flat larger base, a thinner column, and a nozzle (sometimes with a removable drip pan). Designs varied tremendously based on the dominant style of the period they were made in. Their method of construction also played a very important role in their design, with pre-1760 cast candlesticks having a fairly limited range of designs compared to later die-stamped candlesticks.
Antique Silver candlesticks medium Collectors Note:
The level of craftsmanship and their aesthetic qualities determine their value. Early pre-1700 candlesticks are very rare and command high prices. Pre-1760 cast candlesticks should still be in fairly good condition although one should look closely at all junction points to check for damage, and be particularly diligent in checking the condition of the hallmarks. Remember that casting up a duplicate from an original is relatively easy. Post-1760 die-stamped candlesticks are unfortunately often in fairly bad condition due to the thinness of sheet silver used. Cracks, repairs, and holes are not uncommon and one has to look very closely indeed to make sure that everything is in good condition. Candlesticks were probably the most frequently used item of silver before the advent of electricity and therefore there were a vast number made with a huge range of styles.