What is a pricket candlestick?

A pricket candlestick uses an upright metal spike instead of a socket to hold the candle in place. Candles used on these required a hollow base to sit securely upon the spike. This format appears frequently on seventeenth and eighteenth century altar pieces designed for ecclesiastical settings.

How do I light my home with altar candlesticks?

Many pieces on the market have been converted into table lamps or standard lamps to accommodate modern electrical wiring. This allows them to function safely as primary lighting sources while retaining their antique carved bases. Unconverted items can still hold pillar candles for ambient room lighting.

How can I tell an eighteenth century piece from a nineteenth century revival?

Eighteenth century pieces display hand-carving with tool marks and wear patterns consistent with age, alongside authentic patination on the gilt surfaces. Nineteenth century revivals often use heavier gesso layers and mimic earlier styles with different tool execution. Examining the wood species and construction joints helps confirm the production period.

Where were these candlesticks originally used?

These pieces stood on church altars and within large chapels in regions such as Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. They provided ceremonial lighting during religious services. Their impressive scale and gilded decoration were intended to catch the candlelight within large, dim sacred spaces.