A George II silver 'duty dodger' chamber stick, London circa 1730 by George Boothby (reg. 4th Aug 1720)

A George II silver 'duty dodger' chamber stick, London circa 1730 by George Boothby (reg. 4th Aug 1720)

Of circular form with moulded edge, a fly over C scroll handle, the capital fitted with an unmarked plain circular sconce, probably associated. Engraved underneath with initials M C in Roman script and scratch weight 9:8. Marked with makers mark thrice to underside only.

Length – 13.8 cm / 5.4 inches

Weight – 287 grams / 9.23 ozt

Collection of Anthony Aston Smith (1929-2010), bought Christie’s 15 April 1959 (part-lot with Lot 418, £28)

George Boothby was apprenticed to Matthew Cooper on the 29^th November 1712, gaining his freedom 3^rd Dec 1719 registered his first mark for Britannia standard at the 1^st March 1720 at the address ‘at the Parrot in the Strand, he appears in the London Gazette 24^th October 1741 as bankrupt, and is described as "Silversmith and Banker". See Arthur Grimwade, London Goldsmiths 1697-1837 (London, 1990), p. 445.

However a cup and cover now in the Jewish Museum in London, mentioned by Vanessa Brett, bears the mark of George Boothby London 1745/46, which suggests that Boothby was quickly back in business. See Vanessa Brett, "Chains of Office and a 'Jews Cup,' Richard Hoeare's purchases from John Curghey and John Kemp in his mayoral year," The Journal of the Silver Society, number 22, 2007, p. 30ff. Items are seen until 1753.