Poole Silver Company Mid-Century Sterling Silver Weighted Candlestick or Compote Base (No. 754)
Hollowware / Tableware Base · Poole Silver Company, Taunton, Massachusetts. Founded in 1892, Poole was a significant American silversmith known for quality hollowware and later became a subsidiary of Towle Silversmiths in 1971.
Pattern: Pattern No. 754, likely a 'Paul Revere' or 'Georgian' inspired minimalist series featuring concentric circular ridging.
Type
Hollowware / Tableware Base
Maker
Poole Silver Company, Taunton, Massachusetts. Founded in 1892, Poole was a significant American silversmith known for quality hollowware and later became a subsidiary of Towle Silversmiths in 1971.
Material
Sterling Silver (.925 purity) exterior skin over a non-metallic weighted core (usually pitch, cement, or wax). The silver is a thin gauge sheet.
Dimensions
Approximately 3.5 to 4.5 inches in base diameter. Total weight includes the non-silver core, typically weighing 200-400 grams total, though silver content is likely only 20-40 grams.
Description
This is the underside view of a classic Poole Sterling Silver weighted base. The piece showcases the utilitarian elegance of mid-century American silver, employing concentric ribbing to create a sense of depth and stability. While the exterior is genuine sterling silver, the piece relies on a weighted core for its substantial feel. It represents the height of mid-market silver production where luxury materials were made accessible through industrial spinning techniques.
Key Features
Distinctive Poole lion crest, '754' model number, concentric architectural rings, and the explicit 'Weighted' designation indicating a composite interior.
Material & Composition
Sterling Silver (.925 purity) exterior skin over a non-metallic weighted core (usually pitch, cement, or wax). The silver is a thin gauge sheet.
Finish & Decoration
Satin or brushed finish on the base, featuring concentric step-down concentric rings (turned design). Clean, geometric Mid-Century aesthetic.
Hallmarks & Stamps
Includes the 'Poole' script logo above a heraldic lion rampant crest. Stamped 'STERLING WEIGHTED' and design number '754'. No date letter is present, consistent with American mass-market sterling.
Construction Details
Spun sterling silver sheet formed over a pre-cast weighted base. The base is finished with a flat silver cap. Machine-made and mass-produced.
Functional Features
Weighted base designed to provide stability for top-heavy items like candlesticks, compotes, or tall bud vases.
Handle & Grip Details
None; this is the pedestal/footer section of a tabletop item.
Craftsmanship Details
Industrial quality; excellent machine-turning and spinning. The solder seams at the base cap are well-hidden, reflecting Poole's competent factory standards.
Authentication Indicators
Hallmarks are deep and crisp, consistent with Poole's factory stamps. The 'Weighted' mark explains why the item feels heavier than its silver volume suggests. Wear patterns on the bottom rim are consistent with tabletop use.
Origin & Manufacturing
Taunton, Massachusetts, United States. Manufactured in a high-volume industrial workshop setting.
Era & Period
Mid-Century Modern (c. 1945-1965). The clean, concentric ring design is a hallmark of post-war American silver utility.
Age Estimate
Circa 1950-1960. The style of the 'Poole' mark and the font of the number 754 are characteristic of this period.
Cultural Significance
Represented the post-war 'attainable luxury' movement in America, where every middle-class household aimed to own sterling silver for formal dining, even if it was weighted or thin-gauge.
Condition Notes
Good to Very Good. Slight tarnish and sulfide deposits in the ridges. Surface scratches consistent with age and use. No visible 'silver loss' or dents in the delicate thin-gauge silver skin.
Value Estimate
$30 - $60 USD. Value is driven by decorative appeal rather than melt value, as the actual silver weight is low compared to the total mass.
Care & Maintenance
Clean with a soft brush and non-abrasive silver cream (like Wright's). Do not submerge in hot water, as heat can melt the internal pitch or cement weighting, causing the silver to warp or the base to leak.
Similar Pieces
Gorham, Duchin Creation, and Empire Silver produced nearly identical weighted bases; Poole's version is distinguished primarily by the lion crest and specific numbering.
Interesting Facts
Poole Silver Co. was one of the few Victorian-era companies that successfully transitioned into the modern era by simplifying their designs to match the sparse aesthetic of 1950s homes.