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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 Silverplate Forum
 old candlesticks. How were they weighted?
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| Author | Topic: old candlesticks. How were they weighted? |
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Marc Posts: 414 |
posted 07-08-2005 02:50 AM
  
Hi all. As usual, I have run into something that I thought I know a bit about, but in this case I could use some help. On the old candlesticks that are made out of sheet metal, either silver, sheffield, or electroplated, I am used to seeing pitch used to fill a candlestick up and a metal plate just inside the bottom rim to add balance to the piece, to keep the pitch from falling out and to put the piece of felt on so your furniture won't get scratched. What I have in hand is similar, except there is a carved block of wood, instead of the iron plate to hold the pitch in. There is felt glued to the wood. In my 25 years in the business, I have never seen wood used this way, and would like to know if, and when, it was common practice. Thanks for an answer or two. Marc IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 07-08-2005 10:02 AM
I doubt that this was ever a standard practice. It could be that the pitch was damaged and someone carved a wood piece to replace it. Most silverplated candlesticks I have seen are not weighted as the base metal is heavy enough to overcome the tipping problem. So, this may just be a case of extra precaution. Could you post a photo? Who is the maker? IP: Logged |
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Marc Posts: 414 |
posted 07-08-2005 11:39 AM
Hi there Dale, There are a set of 4 of these probably old Sheffield plate, all with wooden inserts. No marks of any kind, but there is a little copper showing through at the edge of the stepped base. I can see the some of the vertical seams also. These sticks are 11 1/2" tall, the bases are 4 1/2" on a side. This is one of the candlesticks. it is 11 1/2" tall. Base is 4 1/2" long. This is a close up of the square stepped base. Note the floral decoration used to hide the seam. This is a 1" section underneath the felt showing the wood. IP: Logged |
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Richard Kurtzman Moderator Posts: 768 |
posted 07-08-2005 11:51 AM
I have a bronze compote dating from about the 1860s with a wood insert in the base. Whether it is original I don't know, but it is heavily oxidized, indicating that it has been there for some time, possibly the 1860s. I have seen a number of old plated and silver candlesticks with weighted bases. Some of these have been weighted with iron. IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 08-22-2005 12:57 PM
The very few examples I have seen where the wood looked original were Austo-Hungarian. Which really does not tell us much. The good point with wood is that it will shrink with age. Instead of the expansion that pitch can induce. In looking at older items, it is sometimes difficult to tell what has been done to them over the years. The wood you have certainly looks like a later addition. But at this date we really don't know. A maker could have been experimenting with something and tried having blanks made in wood so that the silver would fit over. Richard's compote may have been subjected to a scenario on the lines of: this has fallen over too many times so I am going to do something about it. So, off to the home workshop to cut a block of wood I once saw a hot water urn that was nailed to a table top. That could not be pushed over, let alone topple on its own. One further thought, these may have been intended for use in a hot climate where there can be a chance of pitch bubbling. IP: Logged |
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agleopar Posts: 850 |
posted 08-22-2005 11:13 PM
Cutcher, I would very respectfully like to differ with Dale and his vast experience, on the wood in your candle sticks (on the compote I think he got it). The main reason is that the rubbed over edge is done well and does not show signs of an amateur effort. It is quite hard to do this well and if all four bases are the same I think chances are that the wood is original. I have seen wood used like this and agree that usually it is a retro fit, but once or twice it seemed to be original. One was being replaced because it had cracked. [This message has been edited by agleopar (edited 08-22-2005).] IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 08-23-2005 02:40 AM
agleopar, I agree with you. Sometimes it does look original. These may be an experimental group. Or the work of a smith who like the process of using wood. This does seem to be another mystery of the silver trade. IP: Logged |
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