Beehive Knopped Brass Tapersticks

Victorian

Circa second half 19th century | England

An antique nineteenth century pair of cast brass tapersticks (see The Gen) with beehive knopped stems on a ring decorated round foot.

DIMENSIONS: Height 12 cm.

CONDITION: In very good condition, wear consistent with an antique age and use. The brass has a lovely rose patina created by many years of handling and looks wonderful when a taper candle is lit. No evident restoration.

REFERENCES: For examples of similar tapersticks see Collecting Antique Copper and Brass, Peter Hornsby, Moorland Publishing Co Ltd, 1989, p. 65.

~~~~~~~~~~~

THE GEN

“The taperstick is a miniature candlestick made to hold a taper for melting the wax used in sealing letters, a method employed before the introduction of the gummed envelope in the 19th century.” (Candlesticks, Geoffrey Wills, Crown Publishers, 1974, p. 59)

~~~~~~~~~~~