A rare 18th-century British enamel candlestick, attributed to South Staffordshire / Bilston, ca. 1765–1775.
Objects like this belong to the famous group of English “toys” – luxurious small items made to display wealth and taste during the Georgian period. A similar pair is preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (public domain accession 14.58.129 a-b).
White enamel ground decorated with hand-painted floral sprays, cobalt-blue panels with rich gilt scrollwork, and a scalloped base typical of the finest Bilston enamels. These pieces were innovative in their time, imitating the appearance and brilliance of porcelain.
Type: Candlestick
This is a 250-year-old survival, with significant age-related wear:
• Several visible restorations along the stem and base joints
• Chips, losses and touch-ups to the enamel and gilding
• Cracks and craquelure throughout
• Areas of repainting from old repairs
• Surface irregularities, discoloration, and wear consistent with age
Please examine all photos carefully. The piece remains structurally stable, visually impressive, and highly collectible due to its rarity and museum-level attribution.
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Details:
• Origin: England, South Staffordshire / Bilston
• Date: Georgian, ca. 1765–1775
• Material: Enamel on copper
• Technique: Hand-painted enamel with gilt details
• Dimensions: Height: 28.5 cm / 11.22 in; • Base diameter: 13.5 cm / 5.31 in
• Condition: Condition (very detailed):.
(The photographs form an integral part of the description.)
A well-placed antique does more than decorate a room - it gives it authorship. Against a contemporary interior, older objects introduce texture, balance and a sense of permanence that cannot be replicated by newly made pieces alone.
This is the principle behind the LÜRON selection. We look for works that carry historical character with ease, and that feel as convincing in a Paris apartment as they do in a more modern architectural setting.
