How do I date my silver column candle holders?

Dating relies primarily on British hallmarks stamped onto the silver surface, which indicate the exact assay year for sterling pieces. Stylistic shifts also help, as Georgian items show simpler lines while Victorian and Edwardian examples lean heavily into elaborate Neoclassical revival designs. Plated items lack date letters and require assessment through base construction styles, weight, and any accompanying maker marks. Comparing the proportions and manufacturing techniques against documented pieces from firms like Mappin & Webb narrows down the production era.

What is Old Sheffield Plate?

Old Sheffield Plate is an early composite material created by fusing a thin layer of sterling silver to a thick copper ingot through heat and pressure. The combined metal was then rolled into sheets and worked into candlesticks. This technique differs from later Victorian electroplating by showing a thin line of copper along cut edges or where wear has occurred. Pieces made this way date predominantly to the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Why are the bases weighted?

The tall, slender shafts of column candle holders create a high centre of gravity that would easily tip over without internal ballast. Manufacturers fill the hollow bases with plaster, resin, wood, or pitch to anchor the piece securely. This weighting is standard practice across sterling silver and plated production alike. The underside is typically covered with green baize or felt to protect furniture surfaces from the weighted interior.

Are removable sconces important?

Removable sconces sit at the very top of the candlestick to catch melting wax before it runs down the fluted column. Having the original matching pair of sconces preserves the historical completeness and utility of the object. Because these small pieces were easily separated or lost over generations, finding candlesticks that retain them adds to the desirability of the set.