Object Description
A super quality set of 3 antique silver castors with pierced removable tops. Classic plain form. Heavy gauge and chunky style. Each is hand engraved to the front with a large cypher on a matted ground.
Total weight 443 grams, 14.2 troy ounces.
Tall castor – height 16cm. Pair of smaller castors – height 13cms.
London 1728.
Maker Samuel Welder.
Sterling silver.
18th century.
Marks. All three are stamped on the underside with a full and matching set of English silver hallmarks, the tops with the lion mark only. The maker’s mark is poorly struck with only the letter ”W” visible, likely to be “SW” for Samuel Welder, a specialist caster maker of the period.
Cyphers. Cyphers are attractive designs of interlaced and reversed letters, fashionable towards the end of the 17th century and beginning of the 18th century. Benjamin Rhodes, a famous goldsmith/engraver of that period (apprenticed to David Venables, goldsmith in 1670, free in 1678) published his “New Book of Cyphers” in 1723 containing a comprehensive set of cypher designs in alphabetical sequence.
Maker: Samuel Welder
Samuel Welder, London silversmith, apprenticed to Robert Keble in 1707, free 1714. 1st mark entered as largeworker 1714, 2nd mark 1717, 3rd (sterling mark) 1720, 4th mark 1729. Welder was a specialist caster maker of the period.
Welder’s mark is sometimes confused with Samuel Woods’ mark (also a specialist caster maker). Although similar in appearance Wood’s 1st mark wasn’t entered until 1730.
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