Is this an 18th c. chamberstick?

I bought it as an 18th century one from a store. How old do you think it is?

I know next to nothing about this kind of brass so I want to be sure.

 

1970s, possibly 1960s

 

What is the evidence to back that up?

Maybe you're right and maybe the 70s were just really hard for the candlestick... I wonder if they used it as a shovel or a plow for it to be in such condition so soon. At least someone repaired it. The point is, doesn't make sense to me.

I found this video, it has some interesting points such as that back in the day they used to price candlesticks based on the weight and tried to make them as light as possible to be able to sell cheaper than the competitors:

 

Size please? And does the top unscrew from the base?

 

It's about 4, maybe 4,5 inches wide and 3 and a half inches tall.

The top doesn't seem to unscrew. At least it didn't.

I removed the wax built-up from inside the candle cup and the "hole" seems to narrow down towards the bottom and the "stem" of the candlestick is at least partially hollow because I was able to stick a very narrow screwdriver down there inside the stem.

 

To me, yours looks to be legitimately old.......either 18th or 19th century....I don't think you can fake that age and thinness, and wear! I have several pairs of "Brighton Buns".....which were pairs of field candlesticks that broke down and screwed together for easy transport.....used by the captains/commanders in the period wars......picture of mine attached.....but do look them up for more information......looks like you could have half of a pair.....OR I could be WAAAAAY out in LEFT FIELD!!!!!!! Mine average 2 1/4" tall and 3 1/4" diameter.......yours IS a bit larger........

 

And I have NO PROBLEM standing corrected if I'm wrong.....wouldn't be the first time!!!

The more I go back and look at your pictures.....the more I think the top does NOT unscrew from the base....BUMMER!!!! I still stand by OLD though!!!!

http://www.campaignfurniture.com/catdetails.asp?pubID=2

 

While researching, I found pictures online of this candlestick that is apparently as old as 16th century. The candlestick itself is not identical, or even similar in shape to the one I have but look at the bottom. Doesn't it kind of resemble the bottom of my candlestick? I'm referring to the hole in the middle. I can't tell if that 16th century one has a screw in the bottom or if that's just a depressed area like in my candlestick.

Here's the one from http://www.aaawt.com/html/light_candlestick_pricket.html



Here's mine:



Here's also some info I found:

"Most candlesticks made before the 18th century were cast on one piece of solid brass. Very high class pieces were executed in silver and gold, but very few gold examples have survived. Early brass candlesticks are considerably heavier than their later counterparts.

Towards the end of the 17th century and throughout 18th century improvements in the metal casting made it possible to cast candlesticks with hollow stems, thus saving on the material and making them lighter. They were often created in several parts and screwed together to create a more elaborate structure and design."

From: https://www.62days.com/magazine/collecting-candlesticks-and-candle-paraphernalia/

So if the stem really is hollow, that would rule out my candlestick being at least any older than late 17th century. But it's questionable whether it's even anywhere near that old.

 

Your piece is not cast. It is spun on a lathe. The 'hole' is where it was held in the lathe.

 

What's the black ink K or K1 mark in the center of the bottom?

Does yours screw apart? If so a close look at the screw threads might give an age indication to someone who has cut threads in brass. Keep in mind that it isn't hard at all to beat up a new Indiabrass stick to age it artificially.

 

The black K or K1 was dirt in what could be dents or something else. I wiped the dirt out and the "k" doesn't really look like a K anymore. But there is almost like a tiny tiny square inside it, but that could be just a coincidence too.

But is repairing it the way it's been repaired something a fake would have? I mean, isn't that a lot of work for a cheap candlestick? The base has a lot of dents and the stem has wear (from polishing?). I haven't been able to unscrew the stem. I don't know if it even has a screw.

 

I'm wondering why such an item would be so dented ?

 

Assuming it's genuinely old, maybe it's been dropped many times. The metal of the base is not thick at all (but not paper-thin either). Or maybe it spent 50 years in a pile of junk and got damaged then things dented it. Maybe it was buried in the earth and someone discovered it and polished it.

 

maybe it was used in a mental institution ......

 

Looks like it is brass plated?, Or am I seeing things? I had an 18th c. brass plated push up chamber stick a few months ago that was also brass plated. Unfortunately they aren't worth much, even if they are so old. Sad, but true, unless it's something unusual.

 

What would the base metal be?

 

That's a great question, and I really don't know, I read maybe steel or white metal?
You could test your stick with a magnet. Solid brass is not magnetic.

 

I didn't see anything like plating. Are you looking at the solder used to repair it? The least epensive way to make this is from brass, I just don't see any advantage to using another metal then plating it.

At this point I'd like to suggest that whether this ordinary, battered item with ugly repairs was made in 1620 or in 2014, the price it would bring at auction would be similar unless it was accompanied by an ironclad provenance placing it on Napoleon's nightstand or whatever.

 

Spring I don't know what I'm seeing maybe that is repairs on top and bottom that's why I asked if I was seeing things!
Agree about the value though.

 

I don't care about the money value or the lack of it. To me it's priceless and wonderful (only if it's older than circa 1920 though)