In 1714 a new period started it was the beginning of the Georgian era and the plain silver candlestick was still popular, however they were getting increasingly taller. The typical George I candlestick was quite tall, made of Britannia silver up until 1720 with a square base and could have a family crest as the only decoration.
Early Georgian Silver Candlesticks
By the 1730’s Georgian Silver candlesticks had become taller with spool-shaped sconces and a richer ornamentation of pleated of lobed forms. Another innovation was in 1740’s the candlestick had removable sconces or nozzles. These Georgian silver candlesticks were still not very ornate but mostly plain in design, you can pick up a reasonable pair of George II candlesticks for around the £2,500 to £1,500 depending on size, maker and condition.
In the mid 18th century the French Rococo style became very popular mainly due to the Huguenot silversmith influence. Rococo Silver candlesticks are highly decorated or ornate cast and chased styles with extravagant designs. These are highly sought after especially versions by silversmiths such as Paul Crespin, James Shruder and Paul de Lamerie who produced fine examples of rococo Georgian silver candlesticks for the rich and wealthy. A set of 4 Rococo Georgian silver candlesticks by the famous Paul de Lamerie were sold for £60,000, so as you can see the age sometimes does not matter but the maker can be highly sought after.
Later Georgian Silver Candlesticks
Towards the end of the 18th century there was an introduction to neo-classicism which brought about changes in the shape of the candlestick. The use of the square base coupled with the Corinthian column style stem and the urn-shaped nozzle or sconce with gadrooning swags, beading, reeding and stylized foliage made the silver candlesticks look very Roman in design. Coupled with this was the industrialization in Birmingham and Sheffield enabled mass production of loaded candlesticks, this made the owning of silver candlesticks available to more people, so more of these examples are available and you can pick up a decent set of four George III silver candlesticks from about 1777 for £3,000 to £4,000.
During the Regency period from 1790 – 1820 candlesticks were becoming increasingly ornate with lavish foliage and scrolls to the base, around the top of the stem and around the socket. The Rococo style became very popular and very ornate candlesticks were frequently being produced. During this period the rounded base also became popular so most candlesticks produced during the Regency period had the rounded base. Cast silver candlesticks are very few from this period due to the expense of producing them. The new mechanized method of making candlesticks was much cheaper and more practical. After the Regency period we had a very short William IV which is the last of the Georgian period and just carried on from the Regency period for styling and designs.
Victorian Silver Candlesticks
During the first part of the Victorian Period lots of the 17th and 18th century styles were revived and one of the most popular was the rococo style which was reflected by the Victorians desire for novelty decoration. The different sorts of novelty decoration the Victorians liked were rustic figures of shepherds, caryatids and knights in armour were very popular.
Their was also a revival of column candlesticks decorated with diverse border patterns, in a backlash against mass-produced candlesticks and the access to the new Japanese arts asymmetry started to have a influence on the styles the Victorians adopted. The Victorians were also responsible for altering the plain candlesticks of the Georgian period by adding later decoration to them, this can affect their price.
Towards the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century there was two changes to the styles the Victorians started to favour. There was the Art Nouveau style which was inspired by the flowing lines of nature and asymmetrical design. One of the most popular makers of this type of style was Archibald Knox who made candlesticks for the Liberty & co which is a much loved by Silver Candlestick collectors, as an example a pair of candlesticks by Knox in the art nouveau style would cost £3,000 to £4,000.
At nearly the same time another style started to become very popular was the Arts and Crafts style this had an emphasis on fine craftsmanship, quality materials and a simple honest design. The Arts and Crafts clean and geometric designs was championed by William Morris who is another great silversmith who collectors love to have an example of his work in their collection, as an example of price a pair of candlesticks by him made in 1905 will set you back about £1,500 for a pair.
After the Victorians
Silver Candlesticks in the 20th century encompassed a host of different styles from the last of the Arts and Crafts plus the Art Nouveau to the Art Deco and the revivals of all the previous styles and the minimalist modern designs. Most of the contemporary candlesticks have been made in pairs or fours. Candlesticks from the 1950’s and later are not generally as popular and this means you can pick up a nice pair or set of Silver candlesticks for reasonable prices.
The mass production methods used in the 20th century and the host of candlesticks which were made in the revival styles in the 1930’s allows you to pick up a very nice pair of good condition candlesticks in the Georgian or Victorian style for under £300 and although you will not have the genuine pair of Georgian or Victorian candlesticks they will look exactly the same as owning a real pair.
One 20th century maker who bucks this trend is the Danish silversmith Georg Jenson whose designs are still being produced by the Jenson Factory. Any silver objects with the Georg Jenson name always gets lots of interest and commands high prices. He has become one of the more collectable of the 20th century Candlestick makers. You will probably be looking at between £3,000 to £3,500 for a nice pair of Georg Jenson Silver Candlesticks.
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