A rare and very charming antique sterling silver taper stick, the stem modelled in the form of Harlequin. Cast silver. Excellent quality. Lovely patina.
Weight 134 grams, 4.3 troy ounces.
Height 13.5cm. Diameter of base 6.6cm.
London circa 1760.
Maker William Cafe.
This candlestick was produced over a period of about ten years, mainly by William Café and his brother John.
Literature. Harlequin is the most well known of the zanni or comic servant characters from the Italian Commedia dell'arte. Characterized by his chequered costume, his role developed over the years from a nimble and wily, covetous, comic servant into a prototype of the romantic hero.
Biography
William Cafe
William Café, apprenticed to his brother John Café 1742, turned himself over to Simon Jouet 1746. Free 1757. Livery 1758. Mark entered as largeworker 1757, probably on the death of his brother John. Both William and John were known for their cast candlesticks. Known apprentices were Thomas Neale in 1777 and William’s son Thomas in 1784. William died circa 1802-1811.
Condition
This superb piece of antique silver is in very good condition with no damage. Marked underneath the edge of the base with the makers mark only. Excellent patina.
A rare and very charming antique sterling silver taper stick, the stem modelled in the form of Harlequin. Cast silver. Excellent quality. Lovely patina.
Weight 134 grams, 4.3 troy ounces.
Height 13.5cm. Diameter of base 6.6cm.
London circa 1760.
Maker William Cafe.
This candlestick was produced over a period of about ten years, mainly by William Café and his brother John.
Literature. Harlequin is the most well known of the zanni or comic servant characters from the Italian Commedia dell'arte. Characterized by his chequered costume, his role developed over the years from a nimble and wily, covetous, comic servant into a prototype of the romantic hero.
This superb piece of antique silver is in very good condition with no damage. Marked underneath the edge of the base with the makers mark only. Excellent patina.
William Café, apprenticed to his brother John Café 1742, turned himself over to Simon Jouet 1746. Free 1757. Livery 1758. Mark entered as largeworker 1757, probably on the death of his brother John. Both William and John were known for their cast candlesticks. Known apprentices were Thomas Neale in 1777 and William’s son Thomas in 1784. William died circa 1802-1811.
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“waxantiques” is a family business run by husband and wife team Lou and Ann Wax.
Our shared interest in antiques led us to change career and start dealing in general antiques shortly after we married. We spent many happy years selling at the world famous Bermondsey antiques market and at the larger UK fairs. As the years progressed our interest became more focused on antique silverware and its domestic history and twenty five years ago we moved on to Camden Passage to open our specialist silver store “waxantiques”.
In 2018 we finally made our move to the London Silver Vaults.
Our website www.waxantiques.com launched in 2011 now accounts for a substantial and growing proportion of the business to the extent where Ann needs to concentrate on maintaining our online presence, while Lou is responsible for the day to day running of the shop and customer liaison.
We are fortunate indeed to have a career which allows us to handle such lovely items, many of which would not be out of place in a museum environment. Perhaps best of all is that it keeps us in contact with customers from all over the world, many of whom we count as good friends as well as colleagues.