A pair of George III cast silver candlesticks

A pair of George III cast silver candlesticks, by William Cafe, London 1764, tapering knopped stems, scroll borders, spool shaped capitals with gadroon borders, on stepped square bases with gadroon borders, inscribed to base, 'The Gift of the County of Devon to Benjamin Heath Esq. 1764', height 26cm, approx. weight 43oz. (2) Benjamin Heath, (1704-1766), was the town Clerk of Exeter in 1752, a position he held until his death. In 1763 the ministry of Lord Bute imposed an excise tax of four shillings per hogshead on cider and perry, sparking protests in Devonshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Soon after the enactment of the new tax, Heath published a pamphlet 'The Case of the County of Devon with respect to the consequences of the new tax in Devonshire', and his endeavours led to success three years later. The Dictionary of National Biography mentions that 'The Freeholders of Devonshire presented him with 'a very large salver and pair of candlesticks' in 1764 to mark their appreciation of his exertions'. References: Wikipedia and Dictionary of National Biography, Vol.25, Harris-Henry 1, Smith, Elder and Co, pp339-440.