Pair Sterling Candlesticks London 1768, Maker Mark help?

[amw]

This is a good pair of candlesticks, 13.5" tall, one has 4 marks as shown, with the maker obscured; the other has just the Sterling London and date mark, 1768, I believe. The maker marks website leads me to think of Jeremich King, Thomas Whipham, James Wilks, or less likely John Faux or John Rich. I would greatly appreciate help in this matter. Thanks in advance, amw


.

[dognose]

Hi,

I can't make out much from the image of the maker's mark, but this might be one of those cases where you can see the maker's mark clearer than what it appears from the photo.
So bearing that in mind, lets look at the candidates you offer.

John Rich is very unlikely to be the maker of your candlesticks. He entered his mark as a smallworker in 1765 and was described as a bucklemaker in the Parliamentary Report of 1773.

Jeremiah King, Is a name most often associated with spoons and indeed that is the trade to which he served his apprenticeship. He would also have been very advanced in years to be the maker.

James Wilks I know little about, but he also would probably to old to be considered as the maker.

John Faux timewise would fit, but he entered his mark as a smallworker and appears in the Parliamentary Report as a bucklemaker. He is also known to have apprenticed his son to a spoonmaker, which would be unlikely if he himself was capable of producing work of this quality.

Thomas Whipham was a known maker of candlesticks and as for the dating it would be a good fit.

Try posting a better photo of the maker's mark, perhaps using different light and angles, it may produce a clearer image.

Trev.
.

[amw]

Thanks very much, I appreciate you comments.
.