Item 9 - Set of two pairs of candlesticks

Ebenezer Coker was the son of William Coker a cheesemonger from Berkhampsted. Coker was apprenticed to Joseph Smith on 21 October 1728 and finished his service on 7 February 1740. Coker married Elizabeth Ransey at St. Benet, Pauls Wharf on 1 December 1739 . He entered his first mark on 27 March 1738, second mark on 25 June 1739, third mark on 24 May 1745, fourth mark on 20 December 1751 and fifth mark sometime after 1758. Coker partnered with Thomas Hammond from 1759-60 before dissolving this partnership in favour of working alone. Coker's primary works were candlesticks and salvers. The Gentleman's Magazine noted that Coker was bankrupt in 1781 and later that he had died 2 August 1783. This biographical information is available in Grimwade's London Goldsmiths on pp. 467-8 and his marks on p. 50 (marks for 1738 and 1739) and p. 252 (mark for 1759) of the same text.