A set of four George III sterling silver candlesticks, London 1778 by John Scofield (reg. 13th Jan 1778)

Each of circular form with concave base leading to a reed and ribbon knop with baluster column with embossed acanthus leaves, the capitals similarly with acanthus leaves and beaded rim. Engraved decoration of guilloche bands to the base. Each with a removable circular sconce with beaded edge. Filled. Each fully marked to the footrim. The sconces with makers mark and lion passant only. (4)

Height – 30 cm / 12 inches

Although marked with the date letter b used in 1777-78, due to Scofield’s registration date we can narrow the time of marking for these candlesticks to January 13th to May 29th 1778. John Scofield ran an illustrious workshop producing high quality wares in the restrained but refined Neoclassical style. He first registered a mark on the 10th February 1776 in partnership with Robert Jones, this had disbanded by early 1778 when both Scofield and Jones registered marks within a day of each other. The candlesticks in the present lot were certainly produced in Sheffield, which established itself as a specialist centre to produce filled candlesticks at this time. A pair of filled candlesticks marked for Scofield and Jones for 1776 produced in Sheffield was sold Bonham’s Knightsbridge 10th December 2014, Lot 341 (£1,125 incl. premium), in support of this practice of buying in stock from Sheffield are a pair of near identical candlesticks bearing marks for Sheffield 1778 that are overstruck by Scofield, sold Bonham’s Knightsbridge, 3 Feb 2010, Lot 332 (£1,560 incl. premium).During the 1780’s onwards Scofield is particularly noted for large hollow cast candlesticks of which several pairs have been sold in recent years.

Schofield’s outsourcing appears to have continued throughout the 1780’s including with the widow of his former business partner, Elizabeth Jones, whose workshop was a specialist in producing salvers and waiters. A soup tureen marked for 1789 by Scofield engraved with the arms of Henry William Portman and Anne Wyndham, sold these rooms 23 Oct 2017, Lot 362 (£5000 incl. premium) can be compared to the pair of waiters of the same year with the same coat of arms but marked for Elizabeth Jones. It has been suggested by Arthur Grimwade that Scofield could have worked for Jeffreys, Jones & Gilbert, who were the royal silversmiths in the 1780's