Electroplate Silver Candlesticks
Electroplate silver candlesticks bring the warmth of traditional silver to the dining table without the weight of solid metal, offering lasting style for your home.
Electroplate Silver Candlesticks
Electroplate silver candlesticks encompass various lighting forms from table lamps and desk candlesticks to multi-light candelabras, reflecting periods from the mid-nineteenth century through the Edwardian era. You will encounter classical column designs alongside ornate figural pieces, palm tree centerpieces, and neoclassical revivals.
The pieces on this page lean heavily toward Victorian and Edwardian examples, spanning single sticks to five-light candelabras and converted table lamps. They appear in matching pairs and larger suites, shaped by nineteenth-century revivalist tastes from rococo flourishes to restrained classical orders.
How they were made
Makers formed these items using base metal, brass, or copper as a foundation before applying a layer of silver plate or electroplated nickel silver, known as EPNS. This chemical deposition process bonded a thin coat of silver evenly across the underlying white metal or copper substrate.
Workshops utilised structural cores of base metal to provide weight and stability, ensuring the candlesticks could support heavy branches and multi-light sconces without toppling.
One exceptional Victorian centrepiece reimagines a candle-bearing palm tree in silver plate.
What varies in quality
Quality rests upon the crispness of the chased and cast ornamentation, distinguishing mass-produced items from those bearing the marks of established silversmiths and electroplaters. The depth of the decorative relief on figural elements, columns, and sconces reveals the skill involved in the original manufacturing process.
The integrity of the underlying metalwork and the preservation of the silver layer across high-wear areas mark the distinction between standard utilitarian production and superior workshop output.
Smith & Sissons & Co·Harrison Brothers & Howson·John Pound & Co·Palmer & Co·Elkington
The Electroplate Silver Candlesticks Glossary
- EPNS
- Electroplated nickel silver, a durable alloy base coated with a layer of silver through an electrical process.
- Candelabra
- A large branched candlestick holding multiple candles or configured as a multi-light table fitting.
- Sconce
- The socket at the top of a candlestick designed to hold the base of the candle firmly.
- Neoclassical
- A decorative style drawing on classical Greek and Roman motifs, common in Victorian revival pieces.
Electroplate Silver Candlesticks: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean electroplate silver candlesticks?
Use a soft cloth and a gentle silver cleaner formulated specifically for plated items. Avoid harsh abrasive pastes that can wear through the thin silver layer.
Take care around weighted bases and felted bottoms to prevent moisture from damaging the interior structure during polishing.
Are these candlesticks solid silver?
These pieces use a base metal, copper, or nickel silver substrate coated with a layer of silver plate. This method provided the appearance of solid silver at a lower cost.
The underlying metal gives the candlestick sufficient weight to stand securely while keeping the precious metal content to the outer surface.
How can I tell Victorian from Edwardian pieces?
Victorian items often display heavier ornamentation, including rococo revival curves, naturalistic motifs, and neoclassical detailing. They date from the middle to the late nineteenth century.
Edwardian examples tend to show lighter neoclassical influences, such as clean Corinthian columns, reflecting the shift in taste toward the turn of the twentieth century.
Can I use standard candles in antique sconces?
Most antique sconces accommodate standard taper candles, though slight variations in nineteenth-century sizing may require trimming the base.
Ensure the candle sits snugly in the socket before lighting to maintain stability.