Edwardian Sterling Silver Candlesticks with Candelabra

• Sterling Silver - Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, and is relatively soft and the addition of the very small amount of copper gives the metal enough strength and hardness to be worked into jewellery, decorative and household objects.
• Loaded (candlestick) - A loaded candlestick has a hollow base that has been filled with a weight such as sand or lead shot to make it more stable and less likely to tip over. This method of stabilising candlesticks was in use during the 18th century, when large and ornate candlesticks were in vogue. The under base of the candlestick was designed to be detachable so that it could be filled with the weight, and the top of the candlestick usually featured a cup or spike to hold the candle securely in place.
• Finial - An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items, such as spoons, they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.
  
  Finials have a variety of shapes and forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins.
• Edwardian - The Edwardian period of English furniture and decorative arts design is named for Edward VII (1841 ? 1910) who was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India for the brief period from 1901 until his death in 1910. It follows the Victorian period, in turn was followed by the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. In Australia, designs of this period are also known as being in the Federation style.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• candelabra / candelabrum
  • pairs and garnitures 540
  • silver items 205
• Melba, Dame Nellie (Australia) - property from the collection of Dame Nellie 141