Edgar Finley & Hugh Taylor — London and Birmingham?

[AG2012]

X
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Pair of candlesticks; 9`` tall, London, date letter for 1892.
Horace Woodward & Co (Edgar Finley & Hugh Taylor) 1884..1892
(registered Jul 1883)
Great Charles Street, Birmingham
Recorded address in Birmingham; hallmarked for London, workshop in London?

[dognose]

Hi AG2012,

At this time they did have London showrooms at 38, Holborn Viaduct, but this is not the reason for London hallmarking. At this period of time, Birmingham had developed a bad reputation for cheaply made shoddy goods, although there were many excellent manufacturers in that city, it was the bad ones that that everyone associated with it. London, though, had a fine reputation, and this would have been the reason why Woodward's would have chosen to have their better pieces hallmarked there. A London hallmark enhanced their product.

Regards, Trev.

[AG2012]

Hi Trev,
Very valuable information, indeed. Have seen really poor late Victorian pieces and sometimes could not believe my eyes; very thin weighted sterling.
Best regards

[oel]

Hi All, herewith an example of high quality, just polished it.
Victorian caster of light-house form with screw top embossed with scrolls and foliage, gilt interior, London year letter O for 1889-1890 (2 May 1890 - 28 May 1890). Maker's mark of Edgar Finley & Hugh Taylor (H. Woodward & Co.) Length of caster 13.5 cm / 5.32 inch. Diameter 4.7 cm / 1.85 inch. Weight of caster 111 grams / 3.92 ounces.







Best,

Peter