Silver Dining Table Lights
Silver dining table lights elevate an evening meal, casting a warm glow across the room through candlesticks and candelabras.
Silver Dining Table Lights
Silver dining table lights encompass candlesticks and candelabras designed to illuminate meals from the periods of Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian design. These objects range from simple single holders to multi-branch candelabras suited for large gatherings.
The pieces on this page appear in various forms, including Corinthian column candlesticks, figural cherub designs, and large multi-light candelabras with detachable sconces. Styles stretch from classical revival to ornate Victorian rococo revival.
Origins span British workshops in London and Sheffield alongside continental makers, utilising metals shaped into balanced table centrepieces.
What varies in quality
Quality rests in the crispness of cast ornamentation and the thickness of the silver layer over the underlying metal base. Heavier, sturdier gauges of silver plate and solid sterling exhibit superior durability and balance.
Proportion and execution of decorative details, such as fluted columns, figural cherubs, or classical revival motifs, distinguish standard production pieces from finer studio and maker output.
Materials across these listings include sterling silver, silver plate, Old Sheffield plate, copper, brass, and electroplated nickel silver.
Garrard & Co·Smith & Sissons & Co·Barker Ellis·Thomas Bradbury & Sons Ltd·Elkington·Blagden Hodgson & Co
The Silver Dining Table Lights Glossary
- Candelabra
- A branched candlestick holding multiple candles. These provide greater illumination for large dining tables.
- Sconce
- The detachable cup at the top of a candlestick or candelabra that catches dripping wax. It lifts out for easier cleaning.
- Old Sheffield Plate
- A method of fusing a thin sheet of silver to a copper base before shaping. This technique appears on Georgian pieces.
- EPNS
- Electroplated nickel silver. This denotes a base metal coated in silver via an electrical process rather than mechanical fusing.
- Corinthian Column
- A classical column design featuring ornate acanthus leaves on the capital. This style appears frequently on candlesticks.
Silver Dining Table Lights: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean silver table lights?
Use a soft cloth and a gentle silver polish formulated to lift tarnish without stripping thin plated layers. Avoid abrasive pads that scratch the surface metal.
Remove detachable sconces before cleaning to reach wax accumulations safely inside the cups.
What periods do these lights come from?
The pieces span the Georgian era through the Victorian and Edwardian periods up to the mid-twentieth century. Styles shift from restrained classical revival to elaborate rococo revival.
Dates are identified through hallmarks on sterling silver or manufacturing techniques typical of Sheffield plating.
Are these lights suitable for modern dining tables?
These pieces function well on modern tables, providing ambient illumination and a decorative centrepiece. Height and branch count determine how they fit into a room setting.
Pairs of candlesticks suit smaller settings, while large multi-branch candelabras work best on extended dining furniture.