These exceptional antique Britannia silver* candlesticks have a plain octagonal panelled form onto a domed octagonal base, all in the classic English form.
The panelled capitals are encompassed with bands of applied moulded decoration.
The panelled baluster shaped columns feature stepped octagonal knops to the upper and lower portions.
The columns surmount a stepped octagonal base accented with an incurved collet style rim.
Each base is embellished with an impressive contemporary engraved coat of arms** displaying per bend indented, two lions' heads erased counterchanged crowned.
These Queen Anne silver candlesticks are exceptional examples of their type.
* Britannia Silver - The Britannia silver standard of 958 (95.84% of fine silver), denoted by the icon of the seated Britannia holding an oval shield, was introduced by William III in 1697. This was to indicate the slightly higher standard of silver from sterling silver standard of 925 (92.5% of fine silver).
** Given that these arms are engraved upon a lozenge we may presume that the lady concerned was a spinster and that she was member of the Ferne family who were resident in the County of Derbyshire around the time of the manufacture of this pair of candle holders. Upon the evidence found it is more than likely that she was either an unmarried sister or daughter or, perhaps a cousin of Henry Ferne (died 1723), of Snitterton Hall in the same county and of Butterwick House, Hammersmith in the County of Middlesex who served as Receiver General of Customs between the years 1700 - 1716. There a mural monument to Henry in the Parish Church of St James, Bonsall in the County of Derbyshire. Read this items heraldic identification report.
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Maker: Thomas Folkingham
Date: 1709
