Large Table Candelabra
Large table candelabra are substantial lighting pieces that command a dining room or sideboard with branching arms and period weight.
Large Table Candelabra
When you search for large table candelabra, you encounter grand dining table centrepieces and mantel ornaments designed to hold multiple candles or function as wired lamps. The pieces seen here span the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries, with a strong representation of nineteenth-century French and Victorian English manufacture. Pairs dominate the selection, offering symmetrical presence for formal room settings.
Forms range from three-branch silver-plated dining table suites to heavy patinated bronze and ormolu standing models influenced by French Empire, Louis XVI, and Neoclassical styles. You also find multi-light brass and gilt-brass structures, occasionally accompanied by cut glass drops or integrated clock sets. Their primary historical function was the provision of ambient light at dinner parties and social gatherings.
Materials and Techniques
Makers utilised cast and chased bronze, often combining patinated dark surfaces with bright ormolu mercury gilding to create sharp contrasts in tone. Silver plating over base metal or old Sheffield plate technique provided the sheen of solid silver for formal dining wares, while solid sterling silver appears in later twentieth-century iterations.
Brass and copper components were turned, cast, and assembled with threaded fittings to support heavy branching arms. Decoration often involved applied elements such as cherubs, acanthus leaves, and cloisonné enamelling, secured to robust metal foundations designed to withstand regular handling.
Several heavy specimens feature watchful bronze cherubs permanently stationed to supervise the dining table.
Evaluating the Pieces
Structural integrity separates ordinary production from superior works. High-grade pieces maintain straight, true arms that do not sag under the weight of multiple sconces, and they often incorporate detachable components such as drip pans or bobeches that fit snugly into the main sockets.
Matthew Boulton·Elkington·Deniere
The Large Table Candelabra Glossary
- Ormolu
- Gilded bronze produced by applying a mixture of gold and mercury to a bronze base and heating the object. This French technique yields a distinctive matte golden finish.
- Sconce
- The socket or cup at the end of a candelabra branch that holds the base of the candle. Detachable versions simplify cleaning.
- Patinated Bronze
- Darkened or chemically treated bronze surface prized for its subtle tonal variation. It creates a formal contrast against bright ormolu mounts.
- Old Sheffield Plate
- A composite material formed by fusing a thin sheet of silver to a thicker copper base. It is associated with eighteenth and early nineteenth-century English manufacture.
- Bobeche
- A removable ring or tray fitted below the candle nozzle to catch melting wax. These small components are frequently lost or replaced over time.
Large Table Candelabra: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean a silver plated candelabra?
Use a soft cloth and a gentle silver cream formulated for plated items, avoiding abrasive dips that strip the surface.
Take care around joints and decorative chasing to prevent residue buildup in recessed areas.
Can these candelabra be converted to electricity?
Many examples are found with historical electrical conversions or can be wired professionally without altering the original metal structure.
Running wires through the central column preserves the visual balance of the branching arms.
How do I distinguish French Empire from Victorian styles?
French Empire pieces rely on strict Neoclassical symmetry, military motifs, and rich combinations of patinated bronze and bright ormolu.
Victorian English items often incorporate heavier silver plating, ornate rococo scrolls, and naturalistic figures like cherubs.
What is the purpose of detachable sconces?
Detachable sconces allow easier removal of hardened candle wax during routine maintenance of the dining table centrepiece.
They also indicate higher manufacturing quality when they fit securely into the designated branch sockets.