Enamel Candlestick attributed to South Staffordshire / Bilston, 1765-1775

Details

Description

A rare 18th-century British enamel candlestick, attributed to South Staffordshire / Bilston, ca. 1765–1775.
Objects like this belong to the … Read more A rare 18th-century British enamel candlestick, attributed to South Staffordshire / Bilston, ca. 1765–1775.
Objects like this belong to the famous group of English “toys” – luxurious small items made to display wealth and taste during the Georgian period. A similar pair is preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (public domain accession 14.58.129 a-b).
White enamel ground decorated with hand-painted floral sprays, cobalt-blue panels with rich gilt scrollwork, and a scalloped base typical of the finest Bilston enamels. These pieces were innovative in their time, imitating the appearance and brilliance of porcelain.

Origin: England, South Staffordshire / Bilston
Period: Georgian, ca. 1765–1775
Material: Enamel on copper
Technique: Hand-painted enamel with gilt details
Type: Candlestick
Dimensions:
• Height: 28.5 cm / 11.22 in
• Base diameter: 13.5 cm / 5.31 in

Condition (very detailed):
This is a 250-year-old survival, with significant age-related wear:
• Several visible restorations along the stem and base joints
• Chips, losses and touch-ups to the enamel and gilding
• Cracks and craquelure throughout
• Areas of repainting from old repairs
• Surface irregularities, discoloration, and wear consistent with age See less