GEORGIAN ENGLISH STERLING SILVER TAPERSTICKS, SET OF TWO, each having a single capital, raised on knopped stem with scalloped accents and a squared or hexagonal base featuring shell corners, comprising one squared base without bobeche, and one hexagonal base with gilt finish and likely original six-point bobeche insert. Each impressed with "E [pellet] C" maker's mark probably for Ebenezer Coker (Elizabeth Cooke registered a similar mark in 1764) and three hallmarks of a lion passant for sterling fineness, a crowned leopard's head city mark for London, and an "F" or "J [or I]" date mark for 1761 and 1764. Total weight: 10.850 ozt. Mid 18th century. 5" and 5 1/2" HOA.

Deaccessioned by the Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA to benefit collections care, preservation, and future acquisitions.

Very good overall condition with some wear, surface scratches, and nicks, minor worn spots to raised decoration; squared base example with slight bending to stem, causing it to lean slightly; hexagonal base example with worn spots/losses to gilt, bobeche currently frozen with a short hairline to rim.