Stock No. 2623	Rare Queen Anne silver chamberstick
	Rare and very attractive Britannia standard sterling silver Queen Anne chamberstick of extremely good weight. The wide, circular, wax pan has a slightly raised reeded border and sits on three small button feet. There is a broad, shaped, handle to one side. The handle on this chamberstick is solid silver throughout and not hollow and cast as they usually are in this period. A set of full hallmarks are stamped on the front of the wax pan and the Britannia standard hallmark is also stamped on the baluster of the chamberstick.
	Maker :- John Jackson

Condition :-Extremely good considering its age and the hard use chambersticks were subjected to. Two of the feet are slightly skew and the silver is pushed up very slightly on the front of the pan at this point. But this is scarcely visible. The hallmarks are rather rubbed due to years of cleaning but are still readable. The patina is excellent. This piece has never had any repairs
Hallmarked :- London 1706
Size :- 7 inches (17.8 cm) long including handle x 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) diameter of base x 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) high
Weight :- 6.99 ozt (217.6 g)
Chambersticks were designed for easy carrying as they were used to light the way to bed. This particular chamberstick is particularly well designed for this purpose since it is made of heavy gauge in order to be sturdy, has a wide wax pan to catch the drips from the candle and a broad handle to afford a good and comfortable grip. Chambersticks would be numerous in a household since there would be one per person. However, not many Queen Anne chambersticks have survived. Britannia standard silver has a higher silver content of 95.8% as opposed to the 92.5% silver content of Sterling silver. By 1696, the conversion of silver coins into plate had so interfered with trade that an Act was passed making the Britannia standard obligatory for wrought plate. In 1720, the Sterling standard was restored and the use of the Britannia standard remained an option which was mainly used by goldsmiths for prestige pieces. This is a very charming piece of early hollow ware which would be a pleasure to display in any home.

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