Leopard Antiques Fox Family Sterling Silver Gilt Figural Cast Candlesticks (Pair) - Charles Thomas Fox, George Fox

Fox Family Sterling Silver Gilt Figural Cast Candlesticks (Pair) - Charles Thomas Fox, George Fox	Order Form Request more information

Reference: S11420 Period: Victorian Year: 1842-1849 Silversmith: Charles Thomas Fox & George Fox Place: London Price: $ 5 150.00 Weight: 549 grams Dimensions: 18.3 cm height Condition: Very good, one sconce was loose but has been repaired securely. During repair some gilding was lost, note lighter colour to second sconce. One base is slightly loose, nut can be tightened. Description: A fabulous near pair of cast silver gilt figural candlesticks, modelled as Roman's in togas with laurel wreaths, made by the Fox Brothers, Charles and George, important makers known for their figural pieces. The Roman figures are beautifully modelled, note the detail in the face, hair and toga folds, one arm holds the sconce, the other is raised, with the bent knee they almost appear to be dancing. The figures stand on a cast silver Rococo base, also finely decorated with swirling scrolls, incorporating a vacant cartouche for engraving of a family crest (both vacant). The sconces with acanthus leaf decoration and the original detachable nozzles (for ease of cleaning) are also all cast silver, the quality is outstanding, these would have been expensive items when new. Both the figures are securely fastened to their bases with their original bolts and screws, one is slightly loose. The quality of the gilding is also superb, with very little wear, these figures with come to life in candlelight. On close examination very small differences can be seen in both the figures and bases, (hence our opening description as a near pair), so they were cast from different molds (note hair detail on figures and shape of top of base they are standing on). Close examination also reveals 8 different sets of hallmarks, as both figures, both bases, both sconces and both nozzles are individually hallmarked, all by Charles and George Fox but with some differences in date letters (1842-1849), which explains why different molds were used. The first candlestick has the base fully hallmarked with date letter Gothic G for 1842 on the interior of the base, the figure hallmarked with makers mark, duty mark and lion passant on the toga, and the nozzle fully hallmarked with date letter Gothic M for 1847. The second candlestick has the base fully hallmarked with date letter Gothic O for 1849 on the exterior of the base, the figure with hallmarks on the interior of the foot (so well hidden), and the nozzle fully hallmarked with date letter Gothic O for 1849. Both sconces are hallmarked with makers mark, duty mark and lion passant. A very similar pair of cast candlesticks by Charles and George Fox, but modelled as medieval knights, but standing on identical Rococo bases, can be seen in the book "Price Guide to Antique Silver" by Peter Waldron, no 159, page 63, which he describes as "unusual". This same pair can also be seen on the Mary Cooke Antiques website (www.marycooke.co.uk), where they are described as "an important pair, extremely rare, possibly unique". We have also seen 1 other example of this Roman figural candlestick by Charles and George Fox, dated 1842, but with a different base and sconce, on the www.sellingantiques.co.uk website, they describe it as a figure from Greek mythology. Charles and George Fox made a number of other figural candlesticks, standing salts and comports, featuring gardeners in 18th century costume, Summer with a basket of fruit in Dutch 17th century style and matching Winter, amongst others. Summer and Winter are depicted in the book "19th Century Silver" by John Culme, page 166, believed to be from the collection of William Beckford of Fonthill Abbey. The firm of C.T. & G Fox was established in 1801 by Charles Fox (Grandfather to Charles Thomas and his brother George), subsequently run by their Father (also Charles), Charles Thomas and George took over in 1841, Charles Thomas retired in 1860 and George died in 1910, subsequently run by his son Robert until 1921 (Source Goldsmiths & Silversmiths, John Culme, page 162). As manufacturing silversmiths they supplied work to a number of prestigious retailers, notably the important firm of Lambert & Rawlings. The specialized in retrospective styles, and exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851. In August 1974 Eric Smith published a 2 part article in an antiques magazine, entitled "The Fox Family - Victorian Silversmiths", in which he notes "some of the finest examples of silver were made by Charles Thomas Fox and his brother George Fox, the sons of Charles Fox". The article also depicts a figural salt cellar and and a pair of figures, one with a flute, courtesy of leading dealer S.J. Shrubsole. Note - A pair of figural candlesticks made by the Fox brothers and dated 1853, showing summer and a gardener, can be seen in the book "Starting to Collect Silver" by John Luddington, page 65, this pair from the Ernst and Patricia Schuckmann collection, the cast silver bases appear identical.


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Fox Family Sterling Silver Gilt Figural Cast Candlesticks (Pair)


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Sterling Silver Gilt Figural Cast Candlesticks, back and front


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Silver Gilt Figural Cast Candlesticks with original detachable nozzles


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Fox silver candlesticks, toga back view


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Cast silver rococo bases, note slight differences


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Silver candlestick sconces, note some loss of gilding on right


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Cartouche for engraving


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Figural silver candlestick face 1


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Figural silver candlestick face 2 -note differences


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Base of cast silver candlestick, original nut and bolts, also gilded!


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Charles Thomas Fox & George Fox, London 1849 - candlestick 1


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Charles Thomas Fox & George Fox, London 1842 - candlestick 2


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Fox family hallmarks on sconce


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Fox silver hallmark on toga


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Silver hallmarks on foot


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London 1849 Fox family hallmarks on nozzle


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London 1847 hallmarks on nozzle 2


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Sterling silver figural candlesticks with scale

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