The square bases with cut corners and sunken wells around squat circular baluster columns. The sconces of spool shape and with stepped rims. One corner of each base engraved with contemporary armorials
The arms are those of Clarke with Ward in pretence, for John Clarke who was baptised on January 5th 1661 in Bromyard, Herefordshire. He was the son of Arthur and Alice Clarke and he married Jane Ward on June 5th 1684.
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These Candlesticks are the second earliest pair known in a classic design that proved enduringly popular until the 1740's. In fact reproductions were made right through the 20th century and are still made today. The earliest recorded examples of this form, dated 1683 and also by Harache, are two pairs that belonged to Earl Spencer and were exhibited at The Park Lane Loan Exhibition of 1929, numbers 381 and 382. (generally regarded as the finest ever exhibition of English silver). They bear the arms of Marlborough as Earl so had to be engraved on or after 1689 when that title was bestowed upon him. Two of these are illustrated in Arthur Grimwade, Silver at Althorp, Candlesticks and Candelabra, Connoisseur Magazine (1962-3).
Harache was the first emigré Huguenot silversmith to become free of the The Goldsmiths' Company in 1682, albeit three years before the infamous Edict of Nantes which ended religious toleration in France. The result was that a vast number of Huguenots fled France to neighbouring countries bringing with them considerable skills in various crafts. The influx into London during the following decades changed the face of English silver. Harache was one of the most talented of this group and even on the delightful pair of plain candlesticks of 1685 the proportions are very pleasing, possibly better that those fashioned by Paul De Lamerie some 30-40 years later.
These are beautifully elegant candlesticks in very good condition and of couse extremely rare for the period.