An early George III sterling silver candlestick, London 1762 by William Cafe (reg. 16th Aug 1757)

An early George III sterling silver candlestick, London 1762 by William Cafe (reg. 16th Aug 1757)

the base of shaped square form with gadrooned edge, decorated with scrolling shells inter-spaced with scallop shells, the spirally fluted column with circular gadrooned knop and a squared off shell knop, the capital with gadrooned rims. Engraved with a crest of a griffin vulning itself, wing’s addorsed, issuing from a ducal coronet. Fully marked underneath, also initialled H over I * R in Roman script underneath.

Height – 25.8 cm / 10.25 inches

Weight – 645 grams / 20.74 ozt

The crest and initials are for Hartrop or Hartopp, Leicester

This crest is used by the Hartopp Baronets of Freathby, Leicester (est. 1619), the Baronetcy became extinct in 1762 upon the death of Sir John Hartopp, 4th Baronet (1680- 13 January 1762) when the estates passed by the female line to Cradock-Hartopp. The initials remain unidentified. This piece was marked from May 30th 1762, whence by the above baronet was already deceased, his second wife at this time was Sarah Marsh.

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

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