Philip Webb (1831 - 1915) for Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co

copper alloy, the cylindrical stem with upper drip tray and central knop above a sliding adjuster with scroll handle, the large lower drip tray above a dot-and-lozenge engraved stem and pierced domed foot

A rare piece of good overall appearance. The colour of the illustration in the catalogue is a fair representation of the piece. Minor old marks and scratches overall consistent with age. Candle adjustor appears to have seized. Typical blemishes to patina, consistent with material. Underside with a central hole which may have been drilled for electricity. Solder join to underside may be original or restored. Overall, a desireable piece in good honest condition and ready for display.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A similar pair of candlesticks are in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and further examples are at Kelmscott Manor, Lechlade, Oxfordshire. The model is illustrated in Gillian Naylor, The Arts and Crafts Movement, London, 1971, fig. 13, and discussed at length in Linda Parry, William Morris, London, 1996, K27.

Isabelle Anscombe and Charlotte Gere, in Arts and Crafts in Britain and America (London, 1978), write 'it is possible that Morris & Co. intended to put Webb's candlestick into some form of production. In fact, only a tiny number are known to exist.... Like his designs for table glass, Webb's candlestick has a distinctively medieval character but with none of the "floreated" ornament associated with his Gothic Revivalist contemporaries, Street, White or Butterfield. Webb's individual and un-dogmatic approach to design in general perhaps goes some way in explaining his relative professional longevity and influence.'