Antique Candlesticks Pair
These antique candlesticks pair options bring genuine domestic warmth to a room through centuries of metalwork and ceramic design.
Antique Candlesticks Pair
When searching for an antique candlesticks pair, buyers encounter domestic lighting accessories designed to hold wax candles safely upon tables, desks, and sideboards. These items span numerous decades and stylistic movements, ranging from domestic Georgian dining accessories to ecclesiastical altar ornaments.
Brass and silver-plated examples dominate the available selection, frequently appearing alongside cast bronze, gilt bronze, marble, and pewter. Forms range from slender domestic sticks to substantial four-light candelabra and decorative figural pieces.
The aesthetic vocabulary stretches across several distinct periods, taking in Georgian symmetry, French Empire grandeur, Victorian ornamentation, and the cleaner lines of Arts and Crafts and Art Deco design.
Materials and construction methods
Metal fabrication methods define the category, utilising cast brass, spun silver plate over copper, and solid sterling silver. Makers also combined cast bronze with contrasting materials such as Carrara marble or applied ormolu highlights.
Ceramic and earthenware variants utilise specialised regional bodies like Burmantofts faience or Nymphenburg porcelain, shaped and fired before receiving coloured glazes. Pewter pieces rely on precise alloy casting and hand-finishing to achieve their characteristic tactile surface.
Antique Candlesticks Pair Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for candlesticks pair among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Determining quality and craftsmanship
Quality rests upon the crispness of the casting and the weight of the metal. Finer examples show sharp relief work in floral or figural motifs without the smoothing down often found in mass-produced later copies.
The integrity of construction matters significantly, particularly where removable sconces fit snugly into the main socket. Superior pieces maintain balance and proportion, standing true on flat surfaces without wobble or distortion.
Elkington and Co·Liberty and Co·Archibald Knox·Mappin and Webb·Garrard and Co·Burmantofts Faience·Nymphenburg
The Antique Candlesticks Pair Glossary
- Sconce
- The detachable drip pan or upper cup fitted into the top of a candlestick to catch melting wax. Removable versions simplify cleaning and indicate higher production standards.
- Pricket
- A sharp metal spike set in the centre of a candle holder designed to impale wide wax candles rather than accept them into a socket. This form often appears on ecclesiastical church brasses.
- Ormolu
- Finely ground high-carat gold applied to a bronze base using a mercury amalgamation process. This technique yields a warm, durable metallic lustre typical of French Empire pieces.
- Sheffield Plate
- An early composite material made by fusing a thin sheet of sterling silver to a thicker copper base. It is identified by subtle copper seams visible along edges or wear spots.
- Torchere
- A tall stand or candlestick designed to elevate a light source above floor level. These pieces often feature carved and silvered timber or substantial brass construction.
Antique Candlesticks Pair: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I date an old brass pair?
Dating relies on examining base construction, casting seams, and the presence of tool marks left by lathes or hand-files. Earlier examples tend to feature heavier weight and simpler functional assembly.
Stylistic cues such as Georgian ejector mechanisms or Victorian decorative casting further narrow the period of manufacture.
Can I use standard modern candles in them?
Socket sizes vary considerably across different centuries and manufacturing origins, meaning modern standard candles rarely fit without adjustment. Many historical pairs require specially tapered candles or candle fitting inserts to stand securely.
Using correct sizing prevents wax from spilling down the sides of delicate silver or brass surfaces during use.
How should I clean silver plated pairs?
Maintenance requires gentle cleaning with non-abrasive silver cloths designed specifically for plated items to preserve the underlying copper layer. Aggressive polishing wears away thin silver plating over time, particularly around raised decorative relief.
Regular dusting with a soft cloth prevents tarnish build-up without requiring harsh chemical immersion.