Ornate Silver Candlesticks
Ornate silver candlesticks bring weight and chased detail to a dining table, spanning Victorian revival styles to early chambersticks.
Ornate Silver Candlesticks
Ornate silver candlesticks span a broad period from Georgian Old Sheffield plate down to Edwardian and later Victorian productions, encompassing pairs of tall domestic lights and multi-light candelabras. The typical forms on this page include heavy pairs of Victorian silver plated candlesticks, convertible candelabra sets, and occasional single sterling silver chambersticks.
Makers and workshops of the nineteenth century utilised various base metals beneath silver plating, including copper and nickel silver, producing robust items designed for formal domestic interiors. Stylistic influences lean heavily toward Baroque Revival, Rococo Revival, and Neoclassical motifs such as ram's heads and intricate scrollwork.
Buyers will encounter candlesticks ranging from modest table heights to massive thirty-inch examples by notable makers, alongside converted table lamps incorporating walnut or hand-carved elements with silver leaf.
Judging quality
Quality rests on the crispness of the chased and cast ornamentation, where sharply defined scrollwork, acanthus leaves, and figural details separate superior examples from softer, worn castings. The thickness of the silver layer and the integrity of the underlying copper or base metal also distinguish high-tier productions.
Proportion and structural balance dictate the presence of top-tier pairs, where matched heights, sturdy weighted bases, and complete original components such as removable sconces maintain the intended aesthetic harmony.
Ornate Silver Candlesticks Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for ornate 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.
Smith & Sissons & Co·Elkington·Blagden Hodgson & Co
The Ornate Silver Candlesticks Glossary
- Old Sheffield Plate
- A method of fusing a thin sheet of sterling silver to a thicker copper core before rolling and forming into candlesticks. This technique produces a characteristic warm glow where the underlying copper occasionally shows through high points.
- Candelabra
- A branched lighting fixture holding multiple candles on a central shaft and base. These pieces often feature removable arms that convert the multi-light top into a standard single candlestick.
- Chamberstick
- A low portable candleholder fitted with a saucer base and a loop handle for carrying through a house at night. They frequently include a small conical snuffer resting in the drip pan.
- Silver Plate
- A term describing base metals coated with a layer of pure or sterling silver through chemical or electroplated methods. The process allowed nineteenth-century makers to offer grand domestic objects at accessible scales.
- Sconce
- The detachable cup at the top of a candlestick that catches wax drippings and holds the base of the candle. In many antique pairs, these inserts remain distinct from the main socket body.
Ornate Silver Candlesticks: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean antique silver plate?
Clean silver plate gently using a soft cloth and a specialised non-abrasive silver polish formulated for plated items. Avoid harsh rubbing that might wear through the thin silver layer to the base metal beneath.
Wash away residue with warm soapy water and dry thoroughly with a soft lint-free cloth to maintain the antique sheen.
Are these candlesticks solid silver?
Most candlesticks on this page consist of silver plate, Old Sheffield plate, or electroplated nickel silver over a copper or base metal core. Solid sterling silver examples occur less frequently, such as specific nineteenth-century chambersticks.
Check hallmarks and base weights to determine the exact metal composition of individual pairs.
Can I use standard candles in them?
Antique sockets often feature narrower diameters or slight variations compared to modern standard taper candles. Trying to force an oversized candle risks cracking the metal socket or the original wax drip pan.
Pare down the base of the candle gently or use fitted beeswax tapers to ensure a secure upright fit in the sconce.
How do I date an ornate candlestick?
Examine the stylistic cues such as heavy Rococo Revival scrollwork, Neoclassical ram's heads, or Art Nouveau fluid lines. Maker's marks, registry stamps, and the presence of Old Sheffield plate construction help narrow the manufacturing period.
Base weights, construction seams, and threading methods on multi-part candelabra arms also provide reliable clues to the decade of origin.