What is an ejector candlestick?

An ejector candlestick contains a mechanical slide or internal push-rod operated by a thumbpiece on the stem. This device lifts the residual candle stub upward for easy removal. Such mechanisms were particularly popular during the eighteenth century on brass variants used daily in domestic interiors.

How do I spot old sheffield plate?

Old sheffield plate involves fusing silver to a copper ingot before rolling them into sheets together. Close inspection of the edges often reveals a thin line of exposed copper beneath the silver. This technique predates nineteenth-century electroplating methods and possesses a characteristic soft lustre.

Are these items always brass?

While brass forms dominate the surviving record, makers utilised a diverse array of materials. Examples appear in sterling silver, old sheffield plate, porcelain, bronze, and turned timbers like mahogany and fruitwood. Choice of material generally reflects the domestic status of the original owner and the prevailing neoclassical or rococo style of the decade.

What are telescopic candlesticks?

Telescopic candlesticks feature sliding tubular shafts that allow the overall height of the column to expand or contract. This adjustable design was patented and produced by makers during the Georgian era. Users adjusted the height depending on whether the holder stood on a dining table or a low sideboard.