Scottish Thistle EPBM Candlestick Holder

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James Dixon & Son

c. 1850

Subcollections

Overview

EPBM candlestick holder which is shaped as a Scotch thistle flower with feet shaped like leaves. It is missing 2 of its leaf feet which is why it has a bit of a lean.

Historical information

James Dixon & Sons was in founded 1806 in Sheffield and was one of the major British manufacturers of the Industrial Revolution. They were manufacturers of pewterware, electroplated Britannia metal, silverware and electroplated nickel silver. Their products included hundreds of items for use in the kitchen (e.g. bowls, cutting-tools) and the dining room (e.g. tea services, cocktail shakers and mixers) as well as items such as candlesticks. They were a world leader in manufacturing shooting accessories through nineteenth century and exported powder flasks in large quantities to America.

The firm continued to be a family run enterprise until 1976. The patterns are currently owned by another Sheffield firm who export products mainly to the Middle East

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2020.538

Item type

Objects

Themes

Social History

Material

Britannia Metal

Width

10 cm

Height or length

12 cm

Depth

7 cm

Inscriptions and markings

On the base of the candlestick is the James Dixon & Son mark which includes the wording

EPBM
8207

Contextual Information

Modern electroplating was invented by Italian Luigi V Brugnatelli in 1805 but the invention was suppressed for many years due to the fear of confusion between plated silver and sterling silver. Electroplating became commonplace after makers agreed to use hall markings e.g. EPNS (Electro Plated Nickel Silver) / EPBM (Electro Plated Britania Metal) to indicate to composition of the metal and differentiate from sterling silver.

The Electroplating process is where a thin layer of sterling silver is deposited electrolytically on a surface of base metal like nickel or britannium (a pewter alloy).

Keywords

Candle Holder

Place made

Sheffield
Yorkshire
United Kingdom

Year

c. 1850

Primary significance criteria

Social or spiritual significance

Related Objects

Parent records

CABINET 1.6.1 The Taylor Cabinet

Busselton Historical Society