Georgian Silver Candle Holders
Georgian silver candle holders are elegant lighting pieces from the eighteenth century that bring period character to a dining table or mantelpiece.
What They Are
When you search for georgian silver candle holders, you are looking at eighteenth-century lighting fixtures designed for domestic illumination. These pieces include candlesticks and candelabra, often appearing as pairs, sets of four, or multi-light branches.
The versions you are most likely to meet on this page belong to the Georgian and eighteenth-century periods, spanning sterling silver and Old Sheffield plate. Formats range from single candlesticks to lyre-shaped three-light candelabra.
How They Were Made
These items were constructed from silver, sterling silver, copper, and Old Sheffield plate using traditional metalworking techniques. Old Sheffield plate combined copper with a thin fused layer of silver, creating durable vessels with a rich metallic lustre.
Makers shaped the metal into candlesticks and candelabra through casting, raising, and assembly of distinct components. Details such as lyre shapes and socket mounts demonstrate period manufacturing methods.
Listings feature items from the eighteenth century and Georgian period, utilising silver, sterling silver, copper, and Old Sheffield plate.
What Varies in Quality
Quality in georgian silver candle holders rests upon the crispness of the casting and the structural integrity of the metal. Finer examples display sharp definition in their decorative motifs, whereas lesser pieces show smoothed details from wear or simpler construction.
The choice of material also shapes the hierarchy, distinguishing solid sterling silver from copper-cored Old Sheffield plate. Maker attribution further elevates certain sets, particularly when associated with recognised silversmiths of the era.
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The Georgian Silver Candle Holders Glossary
- Old Sheffield plate
- A composite material formed by fusing a sheet of silver to a copper base. This technique preceded modern electroplating and produced durable wares.
- Candelabra
- A branched lighting fixture designed to hold multiple candles simultaneously. These often feature removable branches to function as single candlesticks.
- Candlestick
- A portable device with a base, shaft, and nozzle designed to support a single candle upright. Eighteenth-century examples form the core of this category.
- Sterling silver
- An alloy comprising a high proportion of pure silver combined with other metals for strength. It provides the primary metal standard for fine Georgian tableware.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use candelabra?
Candelabra are designed to hold multiple candles to provide ambient illumination on tables or sideboards. Many historical examples allow the upper branch units to be removed.
This versatility lets you use them either as branched candelabra or as standard single candlesticks. Ensure you use appropriate candle diameters for the sockets.
What is Old Sheffield plate?
Old Sheffield plate is an early composite material made by fusing silver onto a copper core. It allowed makers to create substantial tableware without the full cost of solid silver.
Over time, the underlying copper may show subtly through the silver layer at high points. This characteristic helps identify the period technique.
How are sets numbered?
Georgian lighting pieces were frequently produced as matched pairs or larger sets of four. Sets of four provide symmetrical arrangement for large dining tables.
Individual candlesticks also appear, sometimes surviving from larger dispersed groups. Examining the bases helps confirm whether pieces share the same origin.