How do I clean antique silver candlesticks?

Clean silver components gently with a soft cloth and dedicated silver polish, taking care around weighted bases. Avoid abrasive cloths that wear away thin silver plate. Keep polish out of chased crevices and decorative recesses to preserve the dark patina that highlights the maker's handwork.

Can I use modern candles in these holders?

Most antique sockets accommodate standard taper candles, though older hand-formed brass and silver sockets can vary slightly in diameter. You can pare down the base of a modern candle for a secure fit. Avoid forcing an oversized candle into a antique nozzle, as pressure can crack fragile glass or strain historical metal seams.

How do I spot converted lamps?

Check the central drip pan and nozzle for tiny drilled holes or threaded wiring channels where an electrical cord once passed. Many twentieth-century conversions retain their original candle sockets alongside alterations. Look closely at the underside of the base to see if weighted plaster or felt has been disturbed to house modern internal hardware.

Why do brass candlesticks have small holes?

Seamed eighteenth-century brass candlesticks often feature tiny manufacturing escape holes in the stem or base from the casting and soldering process. These small apertures are standard production marks rather than damage. Ejector mechanisms inside nineteenth-century brass sticks also rely on internal channels to push up remaining wax stubs.