Georgian Column Candlesticks
Georgian column candlesticks bring architectural dignity to a dining table, offering robust brass, silver plate and silver forms built to last.
Georgian Column Candlesticks
Georgian column candlesticks take their cue from classical architecture, translating stone columns into domestic lighting forms. You will find examples spanning the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, alongside later revivals, executed in brass, silver and silver plate.
Brass examples dominate the selection, often featuring stepped bases and vase-shaped or teardrop columns. Silver and Old Sheffield Plate versions bring refined surface shine to the design, frequently incorporating removable sconces for ease of cleaning.
Materials and Construction
Brass and silver form the primary metalwork here, shaped through casting, turning and soldering. Old Sheffield Plate combines a thin layer of silver fused to a copper base, visible in the warm undertones beneath worn edges.
Makers constructed columns in sections, turning components on a lathe before joining them securely to weighted bases. Removable drip pans, or sconces, catch melting wax and slot neatly into the top of each column.
Georgian Column Candlesticks Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for georgian column candlesticks 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.
Extending candlesticks let you pull the stem upwards to adjust the height, solving the eternal Victorian problem of declining candlelight.
Judgments of Quality
Quality rests in the crispness of the architectural detailing and the integrity of the proportions. Sharp casting on the capital and base separates superior work from softer, later recasts.
Surface preservation matters greatly, whether that means undisturbed patinated brass or the subtle ghosting of copper through aged Old Sheffield Plate. Heavy, stable bases indicate better substance than thin, easily dented metal.
J. Miller·Mappin & Webb·Thomas Bradbury & Sons Ltd
The Georgian Column Candlesticks Glossary
- Column
- A vertical architectural support featuring a base, shaft and capital. In candlesticks, this forms the central stem holding the light.
- Sconce
- A detachable metal tray fitted into the top of a candlestick to catch wax drips. These are easily lost over centuries of use.
- Old Sheffield Plate
- An early fused plating technique uniting a thin sheet of silver with a thicker copper core. Look for the copper showing through on high points as proof of age.
- Corinthian
- A classical column order distinguished by ornate capitals decorated with acanthus leaves. This style appears on finer silver and brass examples.
- Neoclassical
- A late eighteenth-century style drawing inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman architecture. It prioritises symmetry, clean lines and classical motifs.
Georgian Column Candlesticks: Frequently Asked Questions
Are these candlesticks safe to use with modern candles?
Most antique sockets accommodate standard taper candles, though slight variations in nineteenth-century diameters occur.
Using a small piece of beeswax or a foil shim secures a loose candle safely in place.
How do I clean old brass candlesticks?
Warm soapy water and a soft cloth remove dust and surface grime without disturbing the underlying metal. Avoid harsh commercial dips that strip away the aged patination collectors value.
Dry the metal thoroughly after washing to prevent spotting.
Why do some candlesticks have removable tops?
The detachable pieces, known as sconces or nozzles, catch melting wax before it runs down the column shaft. Removing them makes scraping hardened wax away much simpler.
Original matching sconces add considerable merit to a pair.
How can I tell eighteenth-century brass from later copies?
Early brass often exhibits subtle casting irregularities, file marks from hand-finishing and a deeper, warmer tone. Base construction methods also change over time, with earlier weights cast solidly.
Comparing the sharpness of the column fluting helps indicate age.