Pair of Silver Candelabra
When you select a pair of silver candelabra, you bring home multifaceted lighting that anchors a dining table or sideboard with polished presence.
Pair of Silver Candelabra
A pair of silver candelabra comprises matching branched candle holders designed to sit symmetrically on tables, sideboards, or architectural brackets. The pieces appear in forms ranging from low two-branch table models to towering multi-light candelabra suites and convertible candlesticks.
Most examples encountered on this page date from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, spanning Victorian, Edwardian, and George III styles. Makers also utilised silver plate, sterling silver, Old Sheffield plate, and silvered bronze to construct these decorative objects.
How They Were Made
Silversmiths constructed solid sterling pieces using casting and hammering techniques, sometimes employing hand-wrought methods for bespoke commissions. Plated variants relied on fusing thin sheets of silver to a base metal core such as copper, or applying silver through electroplating onto nickel silver and bronze.
Ornate decoration involved manual chasing, embossing, and casting distinct components like scroll arms, drip pans, and figural bases before assembling the final structure.
Pair of Silver Candelabra Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for pair of silver candelabra 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.
Several curious examples on this page swap standard scroll arms for detailed mermaids, cherubs, and winged maidens holding the candle sockets.
What Varies in Quality
Execution separates standard production wares from exceptional workshop output, seen in the crispness of cast ornamentation like acanthus leaves or figural motifs. Heavier gauge metal and substantial internal weighting provide structural stability to the branches and base.
The preservation of the original surface plating or hallmarked sterling silver layer indicates how carefully an object has been maintained and used over generations.
Hawksworth Eyre·Garrard and Co·Matthew Boulton·Elkington·WMF·Blagden Hodgson and Co·Walker and Hall·Thomas Bradbury·James Dixon and Son·Goldsmiths and Silversmiths·Mappin and Webb·Barker Ellis
The Pair of Silver Candelabra Glossary
- Old Sheffield plate
- A composite material formed by fusing a thin sheet of silver onto a copper ingot, common in eighteenth and nineteenth-century production. This technique leaves a characteristic thin line of copper visible at exposed edges.
- Electroplated nickel silver
- A base metal alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc coated with a layer of silver via an electrolytic process. It became a popular method for manufacturing durable tableware from the mid-nineteenth century onward.
- Candelabra extension
- A detachable branched lighting attachment designed to fit into the socket of a standard candlestick. This allows a single pair of candlesticks to convert into multi-light candelabra.
- Drip pan
- A small horizontal plate fitted beneath the candle nozzle to catch melting wax. These components are frequently removable for cleaning.
- Chasing
- A metalsmithing technique where a hammer and punch displace metal from the front to create raised decorative designs without removing material. It adds texture and depth to floral and scroll motifs.
Pair of Silver Candelabra: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean tarnished silver candelabra?
Apply a gentle silver polish using a soft cloth, working in straight lines rather than circles to protect the metal surface. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and dry immediately with a lint-free cloth.
Avoid abrasive pastes or harsh chemical dips, particularly on silver plated or Old Sheffield plate items, where aggressive rubbing can wear through the thin silver layer to the base metal beneath.
Can I use standard candles in antique candelabra?
Most antique sockets accommodate standard taper candles, though minor variations in nineteenth-century sizing sometimes require trimming the base of the wax candle for a secure fit. Using a candle snuffer prevents wax from splashing onto the arms.
Ensure the branching structure remains balanced and sits on a level surface before lighting multiple candles simultaneously to prevent tipping.
How do I identify the period of a silver candelabra?
Examine the decorative style, such as the exuberant scrolls of Rococo Revival or the clean symmetry of Neoclassical designs, alongside any maker marks or sterling silver hallmarks stamped on the base or drip pans. Hallmarks provide specific town marks and date letters for British items.
Plated items generally rely on maker stamps and style indicators, as standard statutory hallmarks were reserved for solid precious metals.