William III Silver Snuffer Scissors, London 1701

Object Description

A rare early English silver candle douter, also called a wick trimmer, with the simple plain style typical of the period. *Britannia standard silver.

Weight 94g, 3 troy oz.
Length 15.9cm. Width 5.5cm.
London 1701.
Britannia Standard silver, 95.8% purity.

Few snuffers were made prior to 1700. Maker Thomas Brydon, see Jackson’s Silver & Gold Marks page 154, a known snuffers and stand maker.

Marks. Stamped with a full set of English silver hallmarks inside the snuffer box on one side, on the other side with maker and lion marks, to the top side with the Britannia and lion marks.

*Britannia Standard silver. 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, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent. 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. Britannia standard silver still continues to be produced even today.

Maker: Thomas Brydon

Thomas Brydon, London silver maker, apprenticed to William Brett of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, free 1688. Only mark entered as largeworker undated, probably 1697.

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Object Literature

Two different types of candle douters were used to extinguish the flame of a candle. The extinguisher which was a small cone on the end of a long handle and the snuffer which was a dual purpose scissor like tool which could extinguish the candle flame and also cut the wick of the candle for reuse. There were few snuffers made prior to 1700 and by the early nineteenth century more refined candles were introduced which no longer required the wick to be cut. Additional information available at http://www.oldandinteresting.com/tallow-candles-snuffers.aspx.

Object Condition

The snuffer scissors are in very good condition. The scissors snap shut and are very usable. Shows moderate signs of wear commensurate with age.

Object Details