Jan & John Maggs

Antiques and Art

Portable pair of Sheffield plate candlesticks

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Known fondly as “Brighton buns”, the form of these ingenious compactible candlestick pairs originated in the eighteenth century. Because of their utility and charm, they have continued to be made through the 19th century and into the 20th. The later varieties were made of pressed brass, but earlier examples in wood or silver can bring prices in the five-digit range. This pair lie somewhere between those two extremes. We found them in the Cotswolds and showed them to several knowledgeable English dealers, none of whom recalled seeing a Sheffield type, that is , silver on copper. This pair are in excellent condition, with a few small dents and dings and some wear to the silver plating, revealing the copper underneath.

English, 1790 – 1820

Diameter: 3 ¼”

Price: $185

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