A pair of early George III sterling silver Neoclassical candlesticks, London 1761 by Ebenezer Coker (reg. 27th March 1738)

The bases of square from with stepped cavetto edge, the sunken centre leading to a doric collum, part-fluted decoration and gadrooned rims, terminating in a square column and square removable sconces. The bases and the sconces engraved with a crest of a plume of five ostrich feathers with three crossed bars in front. Fully marked underneath, the sconces unmarked but with alignment dots of three and four respectively. (2)

Height – 24.1 cm / 9.5 inches

Weight – 1039 grams / 33.04 ozt

These candlesticks are from the early period of the adoption of Neoclassism into English arts. While late 17th / early 18th century candlesticks utilised the column form for candlesticks, there appears to have been a proliferation of Corinthian or doric columns as candlesticks from the mid-1750's onwards. This is likely a stylistic reaction to the publication of the writings of Johann Joachim Winckelmann, important in shaping this Neoclassical movement in both architecture and the visual arts. His books Thoughts on the Imitation of Greek Works in Painting and Sculpture (1750) and Geschichte der Kunst des Alterthums ("History of Ancient Art", 1764) were the first to distinguish distinctly between Ancient Greek and Roman art, and define periods within Greek art, tracing a trajectory from growth to maturity and then imitation or decadence that continues to have influence to the present day. Winckelmann believed that art should aim at "noble simplicity and calm grandeur" (Honour, Hugh, Neo-classicism. Style and Civilisation 1968 (reprinted 1977), Penguin p. 61).

A set of four candlesticks of 1756 by Edward Wakelin of Corinthian column form was sold Bonham’s New Bon Street, 29 July 2020, lot 184 (£4437.50 incl. prem)

Provenance (presumably or the other pair): sold Christie’s New York, 21-22 June 2011, Lot 236 ($2000 incl. premium), where this lot was offered with one sconce described as “… together with an associated silver metal nozzle.”