Pair of Fine German Silver Candlesticks
Object Number: #721
Hanover, c. 1773
Maker: Johann Georg Eckhardt
City’s hallmark: a rising lion in a renaissance shield with pronounced contours for the Hannover Neustadt (new part of Hanover) – verifiable from 1725 to 1824 – and finesse’s number 12 (von Rohr 1993: 7). The lion was the animal of the coats of arms of the Earl of Roden, Limmer and Wunstorf, to whom Hannover Neustadt belonged (Scheffler 1965: S. 715 & no 1468).
„Ältermann“’s letter/Warden’s letter: an “L” for the year circa 1773 (Scheffler 1965: 715). Letters of the “Ältermänner”/wardens were used in Hannover Neustadt during the period 1725-1773. They were probably not yearly changed (von Rohr 1993: 8).
Maker’s mark: “Eckart” in rectangle for Johann Georg Eckhardt (Scheffler 1965: no 1469).
Height: 21,6 cm (8,3 in.); Weight: each 515 gr.
Pictures
Detailed Information
Pair of Fine German Silver Candlesticks
This pair of silver candlesticks presents a very interesting, strict and heavy object from Hanover. The foot is octagonal, with concave edges. This decorative form of concave edges is repeated on the upper side of the shaft. The light bell-shaped, vaulted, wrought foot is with edges and in different levels decorated. The foot rim is slightly profiled and the marks are punched on it. The shaft has a club-shape and is adorned with balusters. The spout with a baluster-form has the same décor as the shaft. The candlesticks present a strict geometric type of Hanover Rococo style.
Silver in Hanover
In the history of silver- and goldsmith in Hanover, goldsmiths can be documented as early as 1310. With the implementation of the freedom of arts and crafts that was in force in Prussia, the office of goldsmiths was dissolved in Hanover in 1868.
Since the second half of 17th century, the ceremonies of the court as well as the production of silver- and goldsmith objects were oriented to French models.
Maker
Johann Georg Eckhardt was born in 1736. He took the citizen’s oath on the 13th October 1767 and he obviously became then a master maker. In 1768, he got married to the widow Anna Eleonor Grote. Since 1803, it is verified that he was head master. He died on the 7th December 1814.
Many works and mostly candlesticks and table silver from Eckhardt are part of German public and private collections.
Literature
Scheffler, W., 1965, Goldschmiede Niedersachsens: Daten – Werke – Zeichen, 2. Halbband, Aerzen-Hamburg, Berlin: De Gruyter
Von Rohr, Al., 1993, Edles Tafelgerät: Silber aus dem Historischen Museum Hannover, Historisches Museum Hannover