Andrew Ellicott Warner
Pair of Candlesticks

CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Pair of Candlesticks
Date1815
Made inBaltimore, Maryland, United States
MediumSilver
DimensionsOverall (.1.A,.B): 10 3/16 × 5 1/2 × 4 3/8 in. (25.8 × 14 × 11.1 cm)
Overall (.2.A,.B): 9 15/16 × 5 5/8 × 4 3/8 in. (25.3 × 14.3 × 11.1 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by the Michael K. Brown Metals Endowment
Object numberB.2022.6.1,.2
Not on view

Explore Further

Department
Bayou Bend
Description

American silver candlesticks are quite rare. Examples made before 1840 are especially so. This pair was once part of a set of four with a pair now in the collections of Colonial Williamsburg. The form of these candlesticks, closely following that of contemporary English Sheffield plated examples, is apparently unique in American silver.

Andrew Ellicott Warner formed a partnership in Baltimore with his brother Thomas in 1805, and, after its dissolution in 1812, continued working as a silversmith until his death in 1870. After Samuel Kirk, Warner was early Baltimore’s most prolific silversmith. In some years, his output exceeded Kirk’s. Given his lengthy career, his work spanned multiple style periods, including the naturalistic repoussé style for which Baltimore silversmiths are so well known.

The present pair of candlesticks was once part of a set of four with another pair now in the collections of Colonial Williamsburg (2012-143,1&2).


ProvenanceFrancis Smith (1776–1844) and Mary Trigg (1781–1839), Abingdon, Virginia; by descent to Mary Frances Trigg Smith (1812–1890) and Gov. Wyndham Robertson (1803–1888), Abingdon [1]; by descent to Catherine “Katie” Markham Robertson (1845–1922), Abingdon; by descent to to her great-granddaughter Harriet White G. Chinn (1945–2021), Abingdon; Estate of Harriet White G. Chinn, Abingdon; consigned to [Brunk Auctions, Asheville, North Carolina, February 5, 2022, lot 773]; [S. J. Shrubsole, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 2022.

[1] Mary Smith is the only child of Francis Smith.

Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
One candlestick engraved on the short side of its base in flowing, sprigged script: F. Smith
Each candlestick stamped on outside of base rim (long side): A. E. W. [within rectangle] / clipped-corner rectangular shield [mark for Baltimore] / A [within a clipped-corner rectangle for Baltimore assay office date letter of 1815]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Pitcher
Andrew Ellicott Warner
c. 1853
Silver
B.89.7
Set of Twelve Knives
Andrew Ellicott Warner
c. 1835
Silver
B.85.1.1-.12
Pair of Candlesticks
c. 1730–1770
Silver
B.83.2.1,.2
Pair of Candlesticks
c. 1750–1770
Enamel on copper
B.59.37.1,.2
Pair of Candlesticks
Henry Hopper
c. 1842–1847
Britannia metal
B.2002.7.1,.2
Pair of Candlesticks
Rufus Dunham
c. 1837–1860
Pewter
B.2006.22.1,.2
Four Corners Journal
Deborah Warner
1979
Mixed media, linen, and horsehair
2003.920
Set of Four Candlesticks
William Caldecott
1756
Silver
B.55.11.1-.4
Pair of Candlesticks
The Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Co. Limited
c. 1760–1770
Soft-paste porcelain
B.70.30.1,.2
Pair of Candlesticks
Christopher Webber Fenton
c. 1852–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.14.1,.2
Pair of candlesticks
c. 1760–1770
Hard-paste porcelain with enamel
B.61.62.1,.2
Pair of Candlesticks
c. 1640–1680
Tin-glazed earthenware (delftware)
B.56.171.1,.2