Object Description
A stunning pair of little antique silver tapersticks with square bases and lobed, gadroon decoration. Superb quality. Lovely crisp finish. The technique of making cast silver sticks was introduced into England circa 1685 and this is one of the early designs.
Weight 267 grams, 8.5 troy ounces.
Height 9.8cm. Base 6.8cm.
London 1702.
Maker Thomas Prichard.
Marks. Each stick is stamped underneath in the corners with a full set of clear, matching English silver hallmarks. Both sticks have a badly stamped maker’s mark, one with “PR” double struck, the other is very indistinct but you can make out “PR” if you look carefully. This is probably Thomas Prichard.
*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. Instead the new higher standard, 95.8 per cent pure had to be used and 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. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720.
The manufacture of this pair of tapersticks is technically
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