By necessity this is only a brief and general guide to dating British brass candlesticks. It was a legal requirement that silver and other precious metals were hallmarked, but not so for brass. Look, feel, experience and intuition are the necessary attributes when dating brass candlesticks.
If you use the following guidelines you should be able to date candlesticks fairly accurately, but a word of caution, the Victorians were well known for copying styles from earlier periods.
Shape and Style
Candlestick styles can usually be dated accurately from the shape of the base, stem, sconce and so on, which followed silver patterns of the period. So a first step to dating a brass candlestick is to look at the patterns of silver candlesticks. The British silver hallmarking system required a date letter to be stamped into the piece when it was tested at the assay office. By around 1785 the plain tapering column had become a firm favourite.
If you use the following guidelines you should be able to date candlesticks fairly accurately, but a word of caution, the Victorians were well known for copying styles from earlier periods.
Shape and Style
Candlestick styles can usually be dated accurately from the shape of the base, stem, sconce and so on, which followed silver patterns of the period. So a first step to dating a brass candlestick is to look at the patterns of silver candlesticks. The British silver hallmarking system required a date letter to be stamped into the piece when it was tested at the assay office. By around 1785 the plain tapering column had become a firm favourite.
Seamed Stems
All British candlesticks from the 1700's have a seamed stem, since they were cast in two parts and soldered together. This is a good although not sure sign of a date about 1700's.
Finished Underneath
Nearly all the 1700's and early 1800's candlesticks are well finished underneath, with any excess metal cleaned out. Less care was taken in finishing later candlesticks, which are left roughly cast.
Very Rare Seamed Petal Foot Brass Candlestick – circa 1750’s
Underside machined – circa 1770’s to 1790’s
Brass Push Up Candlestick – circa 1830’s
Note the underside of the casting has been trimmed and machined in the centre and left rough cast around the hexagonal part of the base
Note the underside of the casting has been trimmed and machined in the centre and left rough cast around the hexagonal part of the base
Brass Candlestick – circa 1900’s
Note the underside of the casting is left rough cast
Note the underside of the casting is left rough cast
Base Shapes
Round shaped bases are generally older than other shapes due to cleaning the underside of the bases by machine.
Round shaped bases are generally older than other shapes due to cleaning the underside of the bases by machine.
Push Ups and Side Ejectors
If the candlesticks have or side ejectors or push-ups sometimes referred to as push rods, they were probably made during the 1700`s and early 1800's.
If the candlesticks have or side ejectors or push-ups sometimes referred to as push rods, they were probably made during the 1700`s and early 1800's.
Side Ejector Candlestick – circa 1750’s
Brass Push Up Candlestick – circa 1860’s
Texture and Colour
Candlesticks made after circa 1820 have a lack of individuality of form and the underside of the bases are often left untrimmed. Push rods are found less frequently and most noticeable of the entire alloy is a decidedly yellow, hard brittle zinc brass with little or any lead to soften the colour or texture. Old brass has a mellow golden lustre.
The lead content in the brass softens the colour and texture of the alloy – circa 1750’s
The brass alloy is a decidedly yellow, hard brittle zinc alloy – circa 1900’s
Rounded Corners
Polishing can also reflect age. Over the years polishing will have rounded sharp corners etc. to give a pleasing mellow lines.
Polishing can also reflect age. Over the years polishing will have rounded sharp corners etc. to give a pleasing mellow lines.
Smooth surfaces due to polishing – circa early 1800’s
Sharper surfaces and corners – circa 1900’s
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