Hi John ...

Please could you comment on this pair of candlesticks. They have a maker's mark which looks like a letter 'M' astride a number 12. (I'm wondering ... 1912?)

They're extremely heavy ... each one weighs 2lb 10oz, despite the fact that they only stand 6.5" inches tall (from feet to top of candle holder).





I got them years ago (part of a job lot from the Eastbank Street auction house) ... so I have no idea of their origin/history.

Cheers,
T.

Thet Look Quite Nice Tua

They Look Approx 1880's ,,

Look To Me £100-£120 Retail.

Hi Tua............

Not what I would call commercial.

From the photograph they look imitation bronze.

I am sorry to say I would imagine that if they where in a charity shop I would expect them to be priced no more the £20.

I could not imagine you paid more than £20 for them in the E/B Auction

I am not familiar with M12

briana5125 They don't look late Victorian to me. They look 1970's Far East Reproduction.

I could be wrong.

If they are bronze (a little green showing in the photograph) and have some ware on the base they could sell for a decent price ..... I still think Oriental.

Try to undo the candle part, be careful not to snap them off.
Have a look at the thread on the screw.
If the screw part looks top quality having a good thread, you may have acquired a bargain.

Thankyou Briana & John ...

Glad you like them Briana ... they display well and don't have that 'cheap brass' look to them.

I was wondering whether the 'mythological' subject matter might be a clue to their age? I don't recall gryphons being a creature of choice when I was a lass, for example! The actual candle-holding 'cup' is decorated with oak leaves, which again have mythological 'meaning' I think?

They were in a box of various brass items that I bought for £5. (It was shortly before the closure of Eastbank St auction when hardly anyone was attending).

Managed to sell (via ebay) a pair of brass dragon 'fire dogs' that were in the box for a few pence short of £50. (NB: I'm not into this trading malarky: I just wanted to 'rehome' the fire dogs as I had no use for them )

I've unscrewed the actual candle-holding 'cup' John, and yes, it does have a well-crafted screw thread.

I couldn't find 'M12' on the British brassmark website ... but I wondered whether they could have originated in Europe rather than the Far East (wouldn't their makers marks be Chinese lettering?)

Bestest,
Tua

I An My Opinion John Could Be Right That They Are Eastern (but I Dont Think Chinese)

It's Just My Opinion But They Look 'old Brass'

And I'm Sticking To My Idea ' That They Are Approx 1880's In Date'

I'm Sticking My Neck Out Here But I Think ( Because Of The Weight They Are Probably Cast Brass)

Modern Ones Normally Would Be A Lot Lighter.

The Detail (although Not Brilliant , Looks Sharp Enough)

But Saying That John Is Very Rarely Wrong, I Am Learning From Him (not The Other Way Round)

YES I DO LIKE THEM (POLISHED UP I THINK THEY WOULD LOOK QUITE WELL GUARDING BOTH SIDES OF AN OIL PAINTING ON A MANTLE PEICE)