A taper is a slender wax candle used primarily for sealing letters, lighting larger lamps, or carrying brief illumination across a room. They required specialised small holders and chambersticks to contain the melting wax. These small tapers fit securely into the narrow sockets found on desk accessories and miniature chambersticks from the Georgian and Victorian periods.

How do I clean silver plate?

Silver plate requires gentle cleaning with a mild, non-abrasive cream and a soft cloth to avoid wearing through the thin silver layer to the base metal underneath. Regular light dusting prevents heavy tarnish build-up. Avoid chemical dips entirely, as these strip away residual darkening in recessed details and can damage underlying copper or nickel surfaces.

What is Old Sheffield plate?

Old Sheffield plate is an early nineteenth-century material created by thermally fusing a sheet of sterling silver to a copper ingot before rolling them into sheets together. This method predates modern electroplating. Items made from this material often reveal a subtle copper line along edges or seams where the base metal shows through beneath the silver.

Are these pieces marked?

Many sterling silver items carry clear hallmarks indicating the assay office, maker's mark, and date letter. Silver plated items usually feature maker's stamps or trade marks rather than official government hallmarks. Examining the base or underside typically reveals manufacturer stamps, inventory numbers, or plating marks that help identify the workshop.

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Antique Silver Taper

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An antique silver taper brings low candle-flame to a desk or dressing-table, offering small-scale light shaped by centuries of changing domestic style.