Silver Dining Candelabras
Silver dining candelabras bring formal illumination to the table, spanning Victorian, Edwardian, and mid-century periods in silver plate and sterling silver.
Silver Dining Candelabras
Silver dining candelabras are table lighting fixtures designed to hold multiple candles, originating primarily in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. When you search for silver dining candelabras, you encounter pairs and individual pieces set upon dining tables for formal illumination.
The versions most commonly met on this page are silver plated designs from the Victorian and Edwardian eras. These include multi-branch configurations, often featuring detachable sconces and convertible candlestick bodies.
Makers and manufacturers produced these in various branch counts, from two-light variants up to grand five-light centrepieces. Styles range from Victorian Rococo Revival and Neoclassical to George I Revival and 1930s Art Deco.
Materials and Construction
These items are constructed from sterling silver or base metals coated in silver, including silver plate, Old Sheffield Plate, and electroplated nickel silver. Copper and nickel silver frequently serve as the underlying base metal for plated items.
Manufacturing techniques combine casting for decorative elements, such as cherub figures and lyre motifs, with heavy plating methods. Detachable sconces and screw-in branches allow multi-light candelabras to function also as standalone candlesticks.
Some Victorian dining tables once required winged cherubs to hold the lights aloft.
Distinctions in Quality
Quality rests in the crispness of chased ornamentation and the weight of the underlying metal. Substantial gauge silver plate and heavy sterling silver provide structural integrity, preventing lean in tall multi-branch formats.
The integrity of the plating and the precision of the joints where branches meet the central column separate standard production from superior workshops. Maker attributions and complete, matching components elevate certain examples above everyday tablewares.
Garrard & Co·Smith & Sissons & Co·Barker Ellis·Elkington·Blagden Hodgson & Co
The Silver Dining Candelabras Glossary
- Candelabra
- A branched candlestick holding multiple candles. Most examples on this page feature two to five lights.
- Sconce
- The detachable cup at the top of a branch that catches dripping wax. These often lift off for cleaning.
- Old Sheffield Plate
- A method of fusing a thin sheet of sterling silver to a thicker copper base. This technique precedes modern electroplating.
- EPNS
- Electroplated nickel silver. A durable base metal coated in silver via an electrical current.
- Centrepiece
- A large decorative item placed in the middle of a dining table. Several large candelabras serve this dual purpose.
Silver Dining Candelabras: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a silver dining candelabra?
A silver dining candelabra is a branched lighting fixture placed upon a dining table to hold several candles simultaneously. They provide both ambient illumination and a decorative focal point for formal meals.
Most examples stand on a weighted base and split into two, three, or five candle arms. They appear in solid sterling silver as well as various forms of silver plate.
How do I convert a candelabra into a candlestick?
Many multi-light candelabras are designed with removable upper branches that lift out of the main socket. Removing this top section leaves a standard single candlestick.
This conversion allows you to adapt the height and lighting footprint of the piece to suit different table arrangements and occasions.
What is the difference between silver plate and sterling silver?
Sterling silver contains a solid minimum purity of silver throughout the entire object, usually marked with assay office hallmarks. Silver plate consists of a base metal, such as copper or nickel silver, coated with a thin layer of pure silver.
Plated items offer the appearance and lustre of solid silver at a different scale of weight and material composition.
How should I clean my silver dining candelabra?
Clean silver dining candelabras gently using a soft cloth and a specialised silver polish formulated to preserve the metal coating. Avoid harsh abrasives that can wear down thin silver plating, particularly on antique Old Sheffield Plate.
Wash away wax residue with warm water before polishing, taking care not to submerge weighted bases if the manufacturer sealed them against moisture.