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I found a pair of these candelabras in a consignment shop. They are marked Reed & Barton 5115 STERLING, with the 1950 year drum mark inside each base. The base is hollow and the walls are very thick, about 3 or 4 mm. No other marks anywhere on the candelabra. Did R&B make this pattern in sterling?

I cannot give you a definitive answer. However, if this candelabra were mine, I would be satisfied that it is sterling just because of the marking and because I know that it was not unusual for silver companies to manufacture pieces from the same pattern in both sterling and silverplate.

Not to create an issue with Silverly, but that sterling mark looks a little wonky. If the sterling stamp were centered a line below the Reed&Barton mark I would be much more confident. However the maker's mark and quality stamp is applied aften the piece is soldered together and before finishing. A company as well respected for quality as Reed & Barton would have done a much better job of stamping their quality mark.

If someohe brought these into my shop I would be certain to test them before saying they were as marked.

Thanks all. I spoke with someone at Reed & Barton today and, while she was not certain, she was pretty darn sure the company never made a Sulgrave Manor candelabra in sterling. She also was pretty certain that the 5115 number definitively identified the piece as silver plate. I agree with JLDoggett that I have never seen a Reed & Barton Sterling mark that was not perfectly centered and below the name. In addition, while my photo didn't show it, the detail on this piece was shoddy; slight pattern flaws, roughness on the edges...the kinds of things you just don't see in a top brand like R&B. It also has a telltale patina that I recognize as the heavy silver plate coming out of India - kind of a satiny finish.

All in all, I'd conclude that this is a fake through and through.