Britannia Standard Silver Lighthouse Style Caster - Antique William III

Description

This exceptional antique William III English Britannia standard silver* caster has a cylindrical form in the lighthouse style, onto a domed spreading circular foot.

The body of the caster is encircled with an applied girdle and embellished with an impressive contemporary engraved scrolling leaf bordered cartouche incorporating a coat of arms depicting a lion rampant crowned**.

The caster is fitted with the original hallmarked detachable bayonet style cover embellished with pierced stylised scrolling foliate decoration incorporating quatrefoil motifs.

The domed upper portion of the cover is ornamented with bands of chased gadroon decoration and surmounted with an impressive knopped lobed silver finial.

The rim of the foot is encompassed with a chased gadroon decorated border.

* Britannia Silver - The Britannia silver standard of 958 (95.84% of fine silver), denoted by the icon of the seated Britannia holding an oval shield, was introduced by William III in 1697. This was to indicate the slightly higher standard of silver from sterling silver standard of 925 (92.5% of fine silver).

** This coat of arms could pertain to the Charlton family.

Read a brief history of antique silver casters