Jewellery, Watches, Antiquities and Objects of Vertu

A silver miniature candlestick/taperstick, modelled as a composite column, by James Deakin & Son, hallmarked for Chester, 1903, together with a silver miniature chamberstick by the same maker, hallmarked for Chester, 1901, first height 54mm. £60-£80

The firm was founded in Sheffield by James Deakin in 1866. The first maker’s mark was entered by the firm in the Sheffield Assay Office in January 1878. It was a ‘JD over WD’ and, possibly, represented the partnership of James Deakin and his son William Deakin. The firm was active at Sidney Works, Matilda Street, Sheffield. In 1886 two further sons, John and Albert, entered in the partnership, and the firm was then known as James Deakin & Sons. After James Deakin retired in 1893, his sons William, John and Albert continued the business and in 1897 the firm was converted into a limited liability company, James Deakin & Sons Ltd.