Paired Silver Candle Sticks
These paired silver candle sticks bring symmetry and soft illumination to a room, ranging from simple domestic designs to ornate candelabra.
Paired Silver Candle Sticks
Paired silver candle sticks are matched lighting accessories designed to hold wax tapers, typically displayed on mantelpieces, dining tables, or desks. When searching this phrase, a buyer encounters matching pairs intended to balance a room or surface with period charm.
The selections span from the 18th century through the mid-20th century, encompassing Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras. Silver plate and sterling silver dominate the offerings, alongside pewter, copper, and carved wood.
Formations vary from diminutive desk models and telescopic columns to towering Corinthian styles and multi-light candelabra. Many items reflect specific stylistic revivals such as Neoclassical, Rococo, and Art Nouveau.
Materials and construction
Makers utilised solid sterling silver, Old Sheffield plate, and later electroplated nickel silver over base metals like copper. Solid pieces were often weighted internally with resin or plaster to ensure stability.
Alternative materials include pewter, paktong, bronze, and carved wood finished with silver leaf or silvering. Construction techniques combined casting, spinning, and soldering for metalwork, alongside hand-carving for wooden items.
Paired Silver Candle Sticks Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for paired silver candle sticks 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.
Listings feature items spanning the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, including Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Nouveau periods.
Evaluating craftsmanship
Quality rests in the crispness of cast ornamentation and the integrity of the underlying metal structure. Pieces with sharp relief in decorative motifs like gadrooning or fluting demonstrate superior silversmithing.
The retention of original plating or surface finishes heavily influences the character of plated or silvered items. Substantial weight and balanced proportions indicate better workshop standards.
Archibald Knox for Liberty and Co·Garrard and Co·Mappin and Webb·Barker Ellis·Ferdinand Barbedienne
The Paired Silver Candle Sticks Glossary
- Old Sheffield plate
- A material made by fusing a thin sheet of sterling silver to a thicker copper base before rolling them together. This technique produces a distinctive edge where the copper core shows slightly.
- Corinthian column
- A classical architectural order featuring an ornate capital decorated with acanthus leaves. Candlesticks in this style imitate ancient stone pillars in miniature form.
- Telescopic
- A design incorporating a sliding mechanism that allows the height of the shaft to be adjusted. These were particularly popular for reading or dining flexibility.
- Paktong
- A copper-nickel-zinc alloy originating from China that mimics the appearance of silver. It was imported and utilised for metalware during the 18th century.
- Pricket
- A pointed spike on a drip pan designed to secure a candle, common on altar-style candlesticks. This method predates the common socket candle holder.
Paired Silver Candle Sticks: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean tarnished silver candle sticks?
Use a specialised silver polish and a soft microfiber cloth to gently remove tarnish without scrubbing. Avoid abrasive pads that can wear through thin silver plating or scratch the surface.
For weighted pieces, keep the base dry during cleaning to prevent moisture from damaging the internal filling. Store them in a low-humidity environment to slow down future tarnishing.
What is the difference between sterling silver and silver plate?
Sterling silver consists of solid silver alloyed with other metals for durability, marked with official hallmarks indicating purity. Silver plate involves a thin layer of silver bonded to a base metal such as copper or nickel.
Plated items offer the visual appeal of silver at a different weight and construction standard. Over time, heavy polishing can reveal the base metal beneath the plating on older pieces.
Were all pairs originally sold together?
Most matching pairs were manufactured and retailed as a set to balance decorative schemes on mantelpieces or sideboards. Some surviving pairs have been successfully matched together later by dealers based on size, period, and design.
Examining the hallmarks, base construction, and wear patterns helps determine if two pieces share the same origin. Minor variations in height or weight can sometimes occur even in original factory pairs.
How do I date an antique pair?
Makers' marks, style indicators, and silver hallmarks provide the most reliable dating evidence. British sterling silver typically carries assay office symbols and date letters that pinpoint the exact year of manufacture.
Unmarked plated items are dated through stylistic clues, construction methods, and base materials. Comparing the form to documented design periods narrows down the decade of production.