Pair of Candlesticks thumbnail 1
Pair of Candlesticks thumbnail 2
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This object consists of 4 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Pair of Candlesticks

ca. 1780 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This candlestick, one of a pair, has a single column with a detachable drip pan and is designed to hold a single candlestick.

Materials & Making
With the exception of engraving, which remained a traditional craft technique, the skills used in the plating workshops were emerging industrial techniques which changed the character of the silver industry itself. This candlestick, made of Sheffield plate, is assembled from die-stamped sections which are soldered together. The investment in dies was substantial. Dies once cut, had to be used as economically as possible, and not only were the same dies used for silver and plate production within the same manufacturing firm, they were exchanged with other firms so that they could be used and re-used in as many different combinations as possible.

Places
Until the advent of the Sheffield plating industry, there was no silver trade in Sheffield. Its development was closely dependent on the growth of the plating industry. Not only was the basic material of the plating industry significantly cheaper than sterling silver, with which it directly competed, but the manufacturing techniques quickly developed along much more industrialised and economical lines. Thus the Sheffield silversmiths could, by using techniques learned from their colleagues in the plating industry, cheaply produce silver candlesticks in a variety of designs which greatly appealed to the market and which significantly undercut their London rivals.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Candlestick
  • Candlestick
  • Drip Pan
  • Drip Tray
Materials and techniques
Sheffield plate (copper plated with silver)
Brief description
Candlestick, Sheffield plate, English, ca. 1780
Physical description
Stamped with figures in relief, square base with a figure of Neptune on each face. Tapering stem decorated with figures of Apollo, vase shaped sockets decorated with figures of fortune, circular nozzles and pearled edges.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.97cm
  • Width: 12.7cm
Dimensions checked: Registered Description; 06/10/1999 by JD
Style
Production typeMass produced
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
The Sheffield plate manufacturers were innovators in the use of steel dies for stamping out parts. The dies were made of the new hard crucible steel developed by Benjamin Huntsman. They enabled makers to create a huge range of products simply by interchanging parts, as can be seen in this candlestick and the one shown next to it.
Object history
Made in Sheffield
Production
Reason For Production: Retail
Summary
Object Type
This candlestick, one of a pair, has a single column with a detachable drip pan and is designed to hold a single candlestick.

Materials & Making
With the exception of engraving, which remained a traditional craft technique, the skills used in the plating workshops were emerging industrial techniques which changed the character of the silver industry itself. This candlestick, made of Sheffield plate, is assembled from die-stamped sections which are soldered together. The investment in dies was substantial. Dies once cut, had to be used as economically as possible, and not only were the same dies used for silver and plate production within the same manufacturing firm, they were exchanged with other firms so that they could be used and re-used in as many different combinations as possible.

Places
Until the advent of the Sheffield plating industry, there was no silver trade in Sheffield. Its development was closely dependent on the growth of the plating industry. Not only was the basic material of the plating industry significantly cheaper than sterling silver, with which it directly competed, but the manufacturing techniques quickly developed along much more industrialised and economical lines. Thus the Sheffield silversmiths could, by using techniques learned from their colleagues in the plating industry, cheaply produce silver candlesticks in a variety of designs which greatly appealed to the market and which significantly undercut their London rivals.
Collection
Accession number
M.319-1912

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Record createdSeptember 23, 2002
Record URL
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