Description
A pair of tall and very heavy Silvered Mercury Glass candlesticks, England, circa 1840-1855.
Silvered Mercury glass is mouth-blown, double walled, then silvered between the layers with a liquid silvering solution. The silvering is a heated solution of silver nitrate and grape sugar. The rough bottom scar, left when the glass was knocked from the pontil rod can be seen and was often covered with copper discs or corked.
Silvered Mercury glass, an early example of art glass, was known as “poor man’s silver” in England in the mid 19th Century.
A substantial pair with copper discs applied to the base. Unusually large for Mercury glass candlesticks.
13.25 in. H. x 6 in. base – with copper bottom caps. Heavy weight, high silver lustre.
Holds a 1.25 inch base taper.
In very good antique condition with the expected light loss to the silvering.
The pair shows slight variations in the dimensions, as is common in hand blown pieces. There is a small difference in the height of the bases, as expected.
The intensity of the silvering varies as is the hand-made nature of Mercury glass.
