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ID #SA1241902
FOR SALE
£125
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Handsome Pair Antique Late 18th - Early 19th Century Rat De Cave Candlesticks
For sale by Folk and Fable Antiques
for sale €146     $159
£125
Folk and Fable Antiques

Folk and Fable Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2026
Browse dealers 47 items
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Handsome Pair Antique Late 18th - Early 19th Century Rat De Cave Candlesticks

18th century
Description

A handsome pair of antique late 18th to early 19th century Rat de Cave candlesticks. Hand-forged with iron bands wrapped into wide, non-adjustable open spirals, they sit on thick, hand-turned wooden bases. Topped with the classic hooked "rat's tail" finger handles, originally meant for carrying through cellars or hooking over the rims of wine barrels. Lovely colour and patina to both the iron and the wood.

Condition is good, commensurate with age and use. Structurally sound. Age related drying splits and drips of old wax. One small hole in the side of one wooden base.

Measures 20cm x 8.5cm

Weighs 223.53 grams

Physical Dimensions
Height
20cm (7.87")
Width
8.5cm (3.35")
Declaration

Folk and Fable Antiques has dated these French Spiral Iron Candlesticks to the Georgian era.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1241902
Description
A handsome pair of antique late 18th to early 19th century Rat de Cave candlesticks.
“
Hand-forged with iron bands wrapped into wide, non-adjustable open spirals, they sit on thick, hand-turned wooden bases.
Folk and Fable Antiques

Topped with the classic hooked "rat's tail" finger handles, originally meant for carrying through cellars or hooking over the rims of wine barrels. Lovely colour and patina to both the iron and the wood.

fig 1. A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases.
fig 1. Handsome Pair Antique Late 18th - Early 19th Century Rat De Cave Candlesticks

Condition is good, commensurate with age and use. Structurally sound. Age related drying splits and drips of old wax. One small hole in the side of one wooden base.

Measures 20cm x 8.5cm

Weighs 223.53 grams

Height
20cm (7.87")
Width
8.5cm (3.35")
Date of Manufacture

Folk and Fable Antiques has dated these French Spiral Iron Candlesticks to the Georgian era.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1241902
Folk and Fable Antiques
Folk and Fable Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2026

Unique pieces for collectors and curious minds

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Folk and Fable Antiques Profile Page

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A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases.
1 / 10
Archive I A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases.

Handsome Pair Antique Late 18th - Early 19th Century Rat De Cave Candlesticks

Archive II A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases. View II
Archive III A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases. View III
Archive IV A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases. View IV
Archive V A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases. View V
Archive VI A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases. View VI
Archive VII A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases. View VII
Archive VIII A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases. View VIII
Archive IX A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases. View IX
Archive X A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases. View X
Enlarged Archival View
Folk and Fable Antiques

Folk and Fable Antiques
Telephone 07788 216610
Location
North Devon
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/folkandfable
Verified Since Oct 2026
Items For Sale 47
Folk and Fable Antiques
Folk and Fable Antiques
Verified Since Oct 2026
View Dealer Info
Location: North Devon, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/folkandfable
Verified
Oct 2026
For Sale
47
A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases.
Handsome Pair Antique Late 18th - Early 19th Century Rat de Cave Candlesticks
Ref: SA1241902
A pair of antique wrought iron spiral candlesticks with hooked handles set into turned dark wood bases.
Detail View 1
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectCandlesticks
  • Period18th century
  • StyleFrench Provincial
  • MaterialWrought Iron, Turned Wood
  • ColourDark Brown
  • MotifsSpiral iron stem, Turned wooden base, Hooked handle, Candle ejector slide
  • SizeH 20 cm (8 in) x W 8.5 cm (3 in)

This pair of late 18th to early 19th century Georgian French Provincial Rat de Cave candlesticks is made of dark brown hand-forged wrought iron and thick hand-turned wood. Each piece consists of an iron band wrapped into a wide open spiral stem, topped with a hooked rat's tail finger handle, and mounted onto a turned wooden base. Visible details include age-related drying splits in the wood, a small hole in the side of one wooden base, drips of old wax in blue and pink tones, and a dark patina across the iron and timber surfaces. Each candlestick stands 20 cm high and 8.5 cm wide. Items of this type are placed on a mantelpiece in a rustic farmhouse interior today, where they serve as decorative accessories or tabletop lighting. The compact footprint suits placement on narrow shelves, side tables, or console tops in living rooms and studies.

FAQs

Originating in France during the eighteenth century, a rat de cave candlestick features a coiled spiral iron stem and a hook, designed for portable use in dark wine cellars.

These candlesticks were typically constructed from hand-forged wrought iron or steel stems mounted onto heavy turned wooden or metal bases to ensure stability.

Authentic period examples exhibit irregular hand-forged ironwork, signs of manual tool marks, natural oxidisation, authentic wear on the wooden base, and a functioning spiral candle-ejector slide.

Display them on a wooden mantelpiece, sideboard top, or dining surface alongside natural textures and ceramics to add historical character to modern spaces.

Dust regularly with a soft dry cloth, apply clear microcrystalline wax to preserve the iron surface, and keep the wooden base away from excess moisture or direct heat sources.
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