Pair of Cast Silver Candlesticks, 1756 John Quantock

These are a fine quality pair of mid-18th century cast silver candlesticks made by the scarcely encountered silversmith John Quantock.

Standing 9" in height, they are ideal table candlesticks and benefit from retaining their original, removable sconce nozzles to facilitate the easy cleaning of spent wax. The bases are sexafoil in shape with a shell to each point and this is reflected in the nozzles, whilst the stem is knopped in the usual fashion. An original engraved crest is located to the base of both.

The set of London hallmarks can be found to the underside dating them to the late George II period. The maker's mark is a distinctive "IQ" in script that is clearly attributed to John Quantock (Grimwade 1607) - the only silversmith noted by Grimwade betwen 1697 and 1837 with a surname beginning with "Q"!. Quantock was apprenticed to the specialist candlestick maker James Gould in 1726 and was free by 1738.