Hector Miller (b.1945), the designer and maker of this elegant candlestick, trained at the Royal College of Art and, upon graduation, joined the Clerkenwell workshop of Stuart Devlin. He bought the workshop of Leslie Durbin when Durbin retired in 1974. He has undertaken numerous important commissions and is one of the leading silversmiths in Britain today.
The candlestick has a stem created from two formed and one cast component welded together. The stem sweeps upwards and backwards, tapering to a softly rounded tip. The front panel recedes inwards giving it an attenuated 'S' shaped profile; the back has a more pronounced flare spreading outwards to meet the circular base.
Physical description
The candlestick has a stem created from two formed and one cast component welded together with a soldered-in base plate which carries the hallmark. The stem sweeps upwards and backwards, tapering to a softly rounded tip. The front panel recedes inwards giving it an attenuated 'S' shaped profile; the back has a more pronounced flare spreading outwards to meet the circular base. The sconce is detachable and slips over the tip of the stem, an oval shaped hole is cut off centre through the side wall to accommodate the tip of the shaft. The sconce itself is circular in circumference, oval in cross section and is composed of two sections, welded together and stamped with an assay part mark (925) underneath.
The components have been assembled using TIG silver welding, a technique pioneered by Hector Miller that enables formed or cast components to be seamlessly joined, liberating the designer from the need to create feature lines or wires to hide solder seams.
Place of Origin
London, England (designed)
Date
2000 (designed)
2000 (made)
Artist/maker
Miller, Hector, born 1945 (designer and maker)
Materials and Techniques
Silver, the components assembled using TIG silver welding
Marks and inscriptions
Hallmarks for London, 2000, starting with the sponsor's mark with the initials, HM (for Hector Miller), the lion passant, the standard mark, 925, the leopard's head for the London Assay Office and the Millennium mark. For the drip pan, the standard mark, 925, only.
Dimensions
Height: 26 cm, Width: 7.5 cm, Depth: 7.5 cm, Weight: 455 g
Object history note
Historical significance: The `Grebe' candlestick was one of the first designs made by Hector Miller after scaling down his Camden Town workshops in the late 1990's. By not having to take on so much commercial work, he was able to concentrate on more sculptural pieces, most with forms derived from nature and using the reflectiveness of silver as the only form of decoration. He was able to achieve the simple and clean lines necessary by using TIG silver welding, a technique pioneered by Hector Miller that enables formed or cast components to be seamlessly joined, liberating the designer from the need to create feature lines or wires to hide solder seams.
Historical context note
Mrs Duckworth is the stepmother of the silversmith's wife.
Descriptive line
One of a pair of 'Grebe' Candlesticks, Silver, London hallmarks for 2000 and the Millennium mark, Mark of Hector Miller, designed and made by Hector Miller, 2000
Exhibition History
BADA Fair (01/03/2004-31/03/2004)
Labels and date
BADA 2004 Exhibition label:
PAIR OF 'GREBE' CANDLESTICKS
Silver, London, 2000, designed and made by Hector Miller (b. 1945), marked with Millennium Mark
These candlesticks are know as the 'Grebe' candlesticks. They illustrate the inspiration Miller takes from the natural world, and in this case the grebe water bird. Rather than being a copy of the bird form, they hint at their subject using a clean shape with no decoration.
The candlesticks have been constructed using TIG silver welding, a technique pioneered by Miller that enables formed or cast components to be seamlessly joined, liberating the designer from the need to create feature lines or wires to hide solder seams.
M.6-7-2003 [March 2004]
Categories
Metalwork; Lighting
Collection code
MET
