Description An elegant pair of early English silver candlesticks dating from the end of the 1600’s. Solid cast silver with octagonal form, baluster columns, and a hand engraved lion crest to the faceted bases. Dwarf size, suitable for a desk. Excellent colour. Weight 446g, 14.3 troy oz. Height 14.3cm. Base 9.9cm. London 1698/99. Maker Mark Paillet, listed as Huguenot. Britannia standard silver, 95.8% purity. Marks. Stamped under the bases with a full and matching set of English silver hallmarks for 1698 and 1699, the sconces with the lion mark (rubbed). *Britannia Standard. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent. 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. The old sterling standard was reintroduced in 1720 alongside Britannia standard. 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.
