Made by Mappin & Webb and covered under a British registered design issued in 1891, these candle holders feature crossed clubs and mesh-pattern gutty balls. Mappin & Webb was a highly prestigious silversmith who made the original Ryder Cup trophy and remains in business today.
The underside of one base is stamped "Rd. 173908 Mappin & Webb. Oxford St. W." while the underside of the other base is stamped "Mappin & Webb's Princess Plate, Rd. No 173908, W9904." There is a second number on this base, but it is obscured by the round serrated nut that fixes the candle holder to the base.
According to AC Silver.co.uk:
"Mappin & Webb was founded by Joseph Mappin in Sheffield in 1810.
Although Mappin and Webb is not the oldest Sheffield Silversmith still
operating, it has a rich history and reputation for quality and for
famous customers, making it one of the most prominent and well known
Sheffield silver makers.
"One of the reasons that Mappin & Webb gained such a prestigious
reputation is that at one time they specialized in a specific type of
Silver Plate known as Prince’s plate. Prince’s plate is a higher quality
than normal silver plate, as the process uses a triple deposit of
silver, and has an added coating of protection on all vertices and edges
of their pieces of cutlery. The result of this is that these Mappin and
Webb Prince’s plate items . . . wear more like sterling silver,
and have far more durability." <https://www.acsilver.co.uk/shop/pc/Mappin-Webb-Ltd-b172.htm>
That sure appears true about these 130-year-old candle holders, both of which include the inside liners that fit the top of each holder. These holders have a wonderful brilliance and shine. They measure 4" wide across the base and 6" tall.
For those who are curious, the Ryder Cup trophy was commissioned by English seed merchant Samuel A.
Ryder to Mappin & Webb Co., who created the trophy for 250 pounds.
That’s the equivalent of roughly $21,000 in 2020. Ryder presented the
trophy to the Professional Golfers’ Association of Great Britain and
Ireland prior to the first Ryder Cup in 1927.