Friday 13 December 2013

Divided family


As a special treat for John, here is my latest candle-stick acquisition.

It dates from the late 18th century, has a Bristol Blue Glass column in the base, and takes a tiny candle of only about half an inch in diameter. I love the way that they used Blue glass just for the dark colour, even knowing what a rich, purple blue could be seen when light shines through it - which it never would have.

Set into the bottom of the holder is a tiny pearl button - I don't know why.

Tantalisingly, I know that there is another one out there somewhere, making this one of a very fine pair. I tried to get the buyer to acquire it for me, but he told me that both sticks were bequeathed to a brother and sister, following the death of their grandmother.

They had a massive argument over the splitting up of the estate, and so the sister sold this one just to spite her brother.

So a family has been split up in the same way that these two sticks were, and the end result is that the one stick that I now possess is effectively worth about 4 times less than the pair would have been if kept together. The same could probably said of the brother and sister.

It came from somewhere in Wales, so maybe John could do a bit of detective work for me in the lashings of spare time he has in between feeding the animals, nursing, sitting on committees and manning the telephone for The Samaritans?


20 comments:

  1. The shape suggests that other lamps may well have ended up being 'electrified'. Interior designers will do anything for money/effect.

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    1. If you visit Harrods lamp department, you'd be amazed at how many beautiful old antiques get 'electrified'. It ought to be illegal.

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  2. Leave it with me you sarcastic cock!

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  3. The blue glow is delightful. "The same could probably said of the brother and sister." - what a lovely bitter-sweet metaphor.

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  4. Yes - the blue glow is entirely accidental though.

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  5. They always say - 'where there's a will, there's a war' and that would have been the last thing the grandmother would have wanted. I think that the candlestick is beautiful too - hope John manages to track down the other one for you.

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  6. Very handsome candlestick of an intriguing design.

    The sibling dissent and spitefulness in similar circumstances is sadly familiar.
    Cx

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  7. Estates, money, arguments, pairs of candlesticks split in half - all adds to my feeling that it is much easier if there is no money involved.

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    1. I am lucky in that my brother managed to steal all of my parent's money even before they died, so there was nothing left to argue about - not that me and my sisters would have anyway.

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  8. If there were identical twins and you were dating one of them, would she be worth four times less than the (pair?)?

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    1. Only if I could shag their mother at the same time.

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  9. Thanks you have given me an idea of what to do with several cobalt blue bottles!

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