A pair of George III Irish cast sterling silver candlesticks, Dublin circa 1765-70 by Richard Williams

A pair of George III Irish cast sterling silver candlesticks, Dublin circa 1765-70 by Richard Williams

The bases of shaped square form with gadrooned edge, decorated with scrolling shells inter-spaced with scallop shells, the spirally fluted column with circular gadrooned knops and a squared off shell knop, the capital with gadrooned rims. Each engraved with a crest of a an eagle rising upon a chapeau. Each marked to the top of base with town mark, standard mark and maker’s mark only, also scratch engraved underneath 26:7 and 26:18. (2) Height – 26.3 cm / 10.3 inches

Weight – 1480 grams / 47.58 ozt

A set of of four candlesticks of identical form of 1764 by William Café, sold Christie’s New York, 4 -5 March 2014, Lot 557 ($10,000 incl. premium)

For a set of four candlesticks of identical form of 1771 by Ebenezer Coke, sold Christie’s South Kensington, 5th July 2011 lot 323 (£7,500 incl. premium)

Richard Williams, was warden of the Dublin assay office in 1766-7 and master in 1768-9. It is not uncommon to find Irish silver lacking the date letter, particularly in the second half of the 18th century.