1892 Victorian Sterling Silver Rococo Candlesticks by Charles Stuart Harris, London — A Pair

MEAN WELL — a wish to act with kindness and good intentions.

Engraved beneath a heraldic crest, this simple motto brings a personal touch to a substantial pair of Victorian silver candlesticks.

Made in London in 1892 by Charles Stuart Harris, the pair follows mid-eighteenth-century Rococo designs, reinterpreted through Victorian silverwork. In his revised reference work on British silver marks, Ian Pickford describes Harris’s work as “often fine reproductions”, an appreciation reflected in the proportions and decorative detail of this pair.

The slender stems combine flowing foliate ornament with fluted sections and gadrooned bands. Broad, shaped square bases are richly decorated with scrolls, leaves and shell motifs, creating depth and movement across the silver surface. Both retain their original detachable sconces, with decoration that echoes the bases and matching hallmarks.

Each base bears an engraved heraldic crest depicting an arm rising from a wreath, above a ribbon inscribed MEAN WELL. The crest adds a link to the pair’s former ownership, while the motto remains quietly meaningful today.

Cast in sterling silver, the candlesticks have unfilled bases and a combined weight of approximately 1,400g. Their substantial construction contrasts beautifully with the elegance of their tall stems. Displayed together, they make a striking addition to a dining table, mantelpiece or antique silver collection.

Details

* Maker: Charles Stuart Harris
* Date: 1892
* Assay office: London, England
* Period: Victorian
* Material: Sterling silver, 925 standard
* Style: Rococo revival, after mid-eighteenth-century designs
* Construction: Cast silver; bases unfilled and unweighted
* Hallmarks: CSH maker’s mark, lion passant, London leopard’s head and date letter “R” for 1892
* Sconces: Original detachable sconces with matching marks
* Decoration: Foliate scrolls, shell motifs, fluting and gadrooned borders
* Engraving: Heraldic crest with the motto “MEAN WELL”
* Height: Approximately 28cm each
* Base width: Approximately 14cm each
* Combined weight: Approximately 1,400g
* Sold as: A pair

Condition

The pair retains natural patina and surface wear consistent with age and use. Small amounts of pale residue and localised green discolouration are visible on the sconce insertion tubes, together with a small surface irregularity on one lower neck section. Additional detail photographs are available on request. Please examine the original photographs as part of the condition description.

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