Old Silver Candlesticks
Old silver candlesticks bring the warm, heavy presence of Georgian and Victorian rooms directly to a modern table.
Old Silver Candlesticks
When you search for old silver candlesticks, you encounter a selection spanning the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, including chambersticks, desk lamps, and multi-light candelabra. The majority of pieces appearing here are formed of Old Sheffield Plate or silver plate rather than solid metal.
The dominant aesthetic draws upon Georgian, Regency, and Neoclassical styles, with forms ranging from simple telescopic shafts to lyre-shaped branches. You will regularly find pairs and suites featuring removable sconces designed to catch dripping wax.
Makers and periods recorded in these pieces stretch from the reign of George III through the Victorian era. They serve as functional lighting that reflects formal dining habits of past centuries.
Materials and construction
The technique central to these items is Old Sheffield Plate, which fuses a thin layer of silver onto a copper core before shaping. This method creates durable objects that display the lustre of silver while utilising copper beneath.
Manufacturing methods involve casting, plating, and soldering component parts such as removable sconces and weighted bases. Metal, tole, and silver plate also appear across different forms like chambersticks and desk lamps.
Old Silver Candlesticks Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for old silver 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.
Some chambersticks still retain their tiny matching metal cone snuffers, tucked neatly beside the handle for late-night hallway journeys.
Assessing quality and craftsmanship
Quality separates objects by the crispness of Neoclassical cast details and the integrity of the fused silver layer over the copper substrate. Superior pairs retain balanced proportions and uncompromised structural joints across their branches or telescopic mechanisms.
The presence of matching removable sconces and original weighted undersides distinguishes more complete survivals. Finer suites exhibit precise engraving and harmonious design from base to nozzle.
Blagden Hodgson Co
The Old Silver Candlesticks Glossary
- Old Sheffield Plate
- An early form of plating created by fusing silver and copper together under heat before rolling them into sheets. This technique predates electroplating and leaves a characteristic copper seam visible on certain edges.
- Sconce
- The detachable pan or nozzle fitted at the top of a candlestick to catch dripping wax. Removable versions make cleaning and maintenance straightforward.
- Chamberstick
- A low candlestick featuring a saucer base and a loop handle, originally carried to light the way to bed. These portable lights often include a small matching snuffer.
- Candelabra
- A branched lighting device holding multiple candles on a single base. They frequently convert from single candlesticks by adding arms.
- Telescopic
- Describing a shaft designed to extend or retract in height via sliding metal sections. This mechanical feature allows adjustable illumination levels.
Old Silver Candlesticks: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean old silver candlesticks?
Clean plated items gently using a soft cloth and a non-abrasive silver cream designed for antique metals.
Avoid vigorous rubbing that might wear through the thin silver layer to expose the copper beneath.
What is Old Sheffield Plate?
Old Sheffield Plate is a material made by fusing a sheet of silver to a thick copper ingot through heat and pressure.
Craftsmen then rolled the combined metals into sheets to build candlesticks and other tableware.
Are these candlesticks solid silver?
Most pieces listed under this description consist of Old Sheffield Plate or silver plate over a base metal like copper.
Solid silver candlesticks are far less common from these specific manufacturing periods.
How do telescopic candlesticks work?
Telescopic candlesticks feature sliding tubular sections that allow the user to adjust the overall height of the light.
Internal friction or stops hold the inner shaft securely at the desired elevation.