Spanish Colonial Silver

Pair of Spanish Colonial Silver Candelabra

This superb pair of eighteenth century candle holders are of solid, near-pure silver. They comprise cylindrical holders with wide rims and baluster-form stems that are fixed to concave saucers by means of a silver washer. Each saucer is supported by three short ‘V’-shaped legs ending in ball-and-claw feet.

The underside of each saucer is engraved neatly with the initials ‘P.D.’, these being ownership marks. It is not unusual to see the marks of the owner on Spanish colonial silverware from South America. One reason for this is that as households with extended family members changed and formed, individuals wanted to be clear as to who owned what for the sake of inheritance.

An almost identical candlestick is illustrated in Luis Ribera & Schenone (1981, p. 199). This example, of which there appears to be only one rather than a pair, is ascribed to eighteenth century Buenos Aires.

The pair here are in excellent condition. There are no losses. The silver quality has an attractive ‘rawness’ common with many eighteenth century silver pieces from South America.