A pair of George III silver Wick Trimmers and Cutters.

A pair of George III spring operated Candle Snuffers and Trimmers, London 1817, Emes and Barnard, with gadroon and shell decoration. The steel-edged cutter automatically rises and cuts as the handles of the scissors are opened and closed. The side of the box is engraved with a coat-of-arms with motto, coronet and supporters for Charles William Stewart, 1778-1854, created 1st Baron Stewart of Stewart’s Court and Ballylawn and appointed British ambassador in Vienna in 1814. The shield of arms is framed by the motto of the Order of the Bath of which order he was made a knight in 1813 and a Grand Commander in 1815. He was subsequently Earl Vane and the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry after the suicide of his half-brother Castlereagh. His homes were Seaham Hall in Durham, Londonderry House in London and Mount Stewart in Ireland. Mount Stewart is now a National Trust property.

(c) National Trust, Mount Stewart; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation