Metalware

25 items
A pair of petal based candlesticks with a seamed stem that twists to eject a candle stub, (jammed). The base of ten equal lobes, the capital of the stem a more complex six sided design, the socket finished with a sconce to reflect the base. A good crisp example of this type of candlestick. English circa 1750.

Petal-Based Candlesticks (No.2)

show details 		A cast brass chimney ornament in the form of a Crimea period Hussar. English circa 1850. (The four ball feet missing from the base).

Hassar

show details 		Cut steel sugar loaf cutters with a turned bone grip to the handle. English circa 1790. A sugarloaf was the traditional form in which refined sugar was produced and sold until the late 19th century when granulated and cube sugars were introduced. A tall cone with a rounded top, it was the end product of a process that saw the dark molasses-rich raw sugar, which had been imported from sugar cane growing regions such as the Caribbean and Brazil, refined into white sugar.

Sugar Loaf Cutters

show details 		A pair of Adams style Paktong candlesticks, English circa 1780. Paktong is a rare Chinese alloy imported in small quantities during the eighteenth century and used by European craftsmen to make domestic objects, sometimes in imitation of silverware. It is a very hard metal, slow to tarnish, and could therefore be used to make articles that looked as if they were made from silver but were in fact as hard as iron. The Adams brothers are known to have employed this metal in the making of fire tools, fenders and the more decorative elements of a fire grate. This metal has been shrouded in mystery since it was first recorded by Western travellers in the seventeenth century. The vital silver-coloured ingredient, nickel, was not identified in the West until the second half of the eighteenth century, and it was to be a further fifty years before scientists were able to perfect a viable imitation of paktong.

Adams Paktong Candlesticks

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A pair of Paktong candlesticks with inverted fluting to the column and a gadrooned molding to the base and the edge of the lift-out drip pans. Probably Chinese circa 1780. Paktong is a rare Chinese alloy imported in small quantities during the eighteenth century and used by European craftsmen to make domestic objects, sometimes in imitation of silverware. It is a very hard metal, slow to tarnish, and could therefore be used to make articles that looked as if they were made from silver but were in fact as hard as iron. The Adams brothers are known to have employed this metal in the making of fire tools, fenders and the more decorative elements of a fire grate. This metal has been shrouded in mystery since it was first recorded by Western travellers in the seventeenth century. The vital silver-coloured ingredient, nickel, was not identified in the West until the second half of the eighteenth century, and it was to be a further fifty years before scientists were able to perfect a viable imitation of paktong.

Gadrooned Paktong Candlesticks

show details 		A pair of Paktong candlesticks with stop-fluted columns and gadrooning to the base and seperate lift-out drip pan. There is considerable, although not deep, porosity evident to the base of the left hand candlestick, perhaps suggesting an English workshop; this can be a difficult metal to work and 18th century products often show signs of post casting plugs to faults. Probably English circa 1780. Paktong is a rare Chinese alloy imported in small quantities during the eighteenth century and used by European craftsmen to make domestic objects, sometimes in imitation of silverware. It is a very hard metal, slow to tarnish, and could therefore be used to make articles that looked as if they were made from silver but were in fact as hard as iron. The Adams brothers are known to have employed this metal in the making of fire tools, fenders and the more decorative elements of a fire grate. This metal has been shrouded in mystery since it was first recorded by Western travellers in the seventeenth century. The vital silver-coloured ingredient, nickel, was not identified in the West until the second half of the eighteenth century, and it was to be a further fifty years before scientists were able to perfect a viable imitation of paktong.

Columnar Paktong Candlesticks

show details 		A miniature dairy display milk pail, copper with a brass handle and brackets, engraved with the dairy's name 'Sam Smith, Moseley, Birmingham'. English circa 1870.

Dairy Pail

show details 		An early 19th century English steel tinder box, the lid engraved with the owner's name and occupation, 'Charles Burnett Corn Miller' and dated 1826.

A Miller's Tinder Box

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An extensively and finely worked bronze bowl on stand, an incised mark to the underside of the bowl. Indian circa 1850. Bowl dia 10.25. Base dia 11 in. Total height 9 5/8.

Indian Bronze Bowl on Stand

show details 		A pair of heavily cast bronze pricket candlesticks, the larger central knop stamped in capital letters GIO.(vanni) FRA(n)CO. CARRESI. Probably Italian circa 1790.

Italian Bronze Candlesticks

show details 		An early 18th century brass and iron foot-warmer, pierced with tulip designs to the sides. Dutch circa 1720.

Carriage Foot-Warmer

show details 		17th century repoussé wine vessel. French, worked from sheet copper in the Itialian style.

French Wine Vessel

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A Georgian dog collar, brass, engraved 'Ja(me)s Shell Kingsdown' within two bands of husks, and with a steel hasp. English circa 1820.

A Dog's Collar

show details 		A fine pair of cast and turned brass candlesticks engraved with an armorial device to the top surface of the base and with initials cut into the underside. Seamed through the stem and socket. English circa 1710.

Armorial Candlesticks

show details 		A rare toleware snuffbox produced to commemorate Nelson's glorious victory and death at Trafalgar. Decorated in gold and black on a red ground, the gilt memorial scratched through with 'Cape Trafalgar' and 'Nelson'. English circa 1806.

Nelson Snuffbox

show details 		A particularly tall pair of open twist brass candlesticks. English circa 1890.

Tall Twisted Candlesticks

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A pierced brass sponge box with extensive traces of the original silvering. French 18th century.

Sponge Box

show details 		Early 19th century brass cased travelling inkwell engraved with a head and shoulders portrait of a uniformed man and a verse

Anderson's Inkwell

show details 		Pair of American brass and iron andirons, the feet and legs of one casting, the stem seamed and made up off two castings. All assembled on a wrought iron frame. American, early 19th century. For a near identical pair stamped R. Wittingham N. York see Roderick Butler's selling exhibition,

American Andirons

show details 		A substantial pair of heavily cast brass candlesticks, the stems cast in two halves with push-up rod ejectors. Engraved around the hexagonal bases 'Total Abstinence Friendly Benefit Society. Revd. J. J. F. Murphy. Priest. Founded A.D. 1840. Probably Irish.

"Total Abstinence"

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A set of three fine and substantial gunmetal candlesticks, stop fluted columns raised on a square beaded base and with a loose beaded nozzle. The bases are beautifully engraved in script

Candlesticks from the Order of St. Patrick.

show details 		An early 19th century brass snuffbox, shaped for comfort in a waistcoat pocket, the lid set with another smaller snuffbox and its lid also set with a snuffbox! The smallest lid decorated with bands of wrigglework engraving. English circa 1820.

Multiple Snuffbox

show details 		A steel serving spoon with an elaborately fretted stem. A metalworker's response to the more familiar treen spoons of the 19th century. English/French circa 1840.

Spoon

show details 		An early bronze pipe tamper with engraved seal end, probably 17th century. English.

Cruxiform Pipe Tamper

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An early 19th century resting stand for a hot iron, interestingly worked up from cast sheets. The base plate is held in place by adapting a mortice and tennon type fixing.

Flat Iron Stand

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