Thomas Boulsover discovered Old Sheffield plate almost by accident in 1743, overheating a silver knife handle while repairing it and noticing the melted silver had fused permanently with the copper beneath. What followed was a deliberate technique: an ingot of copper sandwiched between two thin sheets of silver, bound tightly and heated until fused, then rolled into workable sheet for making objects. The process stayed in use for roughly a century, largely made obsolete after 1840 when electroplating offered a cheaper alternative, which is a big part of why authentic Old Sheffield plate from this earlier period is comparatively hard to come by now.
This pair of candlesticks shows the technique at real scale, waisted columns with bulbous knops and shoulders, raised on fluted circular bases, and covered throughout in hand-chased relief decoration: acanthus foliage, scrollwork, ribbed wave patterns to the bases, and nautilus shell motifs, a fully Rococo Revival treatment applied to a late Georgian form. Thick glass hurricane shades, each an inverted bell shape, sit atop the sconces, protecting a flame from draught while still letting the light show through. Standing half a metre tall when fully assembled, they're a substantial pair rather than a modest tabletop accessory.
Condition notes
Excellent antique condition. Copper bleeding appropriate to age and use; the top of one sconce is a bit uneven; fleabites to the lower rims of the glass shades.
