Burnell and Rowe

Description

Here we have a good quality Pair of Victorian Sterling Silver Taper Sticks. The taper sticks are in the Georgian Revival style, featuring square bases with scalloped corners, weighted for stability, knopped stems and urn shaped sconces. There are no initials or personalisation of any kind.

Taper sticks hold narrow candles or tapers and were often found on writing desks or dressing tables to both provide light and to be used for melting sealing wax for use on letters and documents.

These taper sticks were made in London by renowned silversmiths Thomas Bradbury & Son and date to 1899. The firm traced its origin back to Fenton, Creswick & Co in 1773 with the first Thomas Bradbury joining as a partner in 1795. By 1831 the firm was run by Thomas Bradbury Snr & Jnr and remained in the control of the Bradbury family until the early years of the 20th century. The company was bought by Atkin Brothers in 1943 and they maintained the brand name into the early 1950s.

Condition is extremely good, with just a couple of truly tiny dings in the bases plus the superficial surface wear that has to be expected after 125 years of good service. Please make sure to view all the photographs.

Each taper stick stands 10.4cm / 4.1ins high and the bases are 7cm / 2.75ins square. The pair together weigh in at 322.4g / 11.37oz but this does of course include the weighting material in the bases.

The hallmarks, on the rims of the bases, are well struck and clear to read. They show the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the leopard's head assay mark for London, the date letter d for 1899 and the T.B makers' mark for Thomas Bradbury & Son.

Shipping in the UK is £12 by Royal Mail Special Delivery, which includes cover for the value of the taper sticks.
Overseas customers, please ask us about shipping costs to your country before making a purchase.