Silver Plated Column Candlesticks
Silver plated column candlesticks are architectural lighting pieces that bring classical proportion and bright metal shine to a dining table or mantelpiece.
Silver Plated Column Candlesticks
Silver plated column candlesticks draw upon classical architecture, taking their design cues from Greek and Roman orders. The Corinthian column form appears repeatedly across the selection, featuring fluted shafts and elaborate acanthus leaf capitals.
Most examples originate from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, alongside earlier Georgian items and Old Sheffield Plate pieces. Alongside traditional candle holders, the selection includes variants adapted into table lamps and multi-light candelabra.
Buyers will encounter pairs and larger sets, often standing on square or stepped bases. These items served formal dining rooms and drawing rooms, providing both practical illumination and formal symmetry.
How They Were Made
Base metals such as copper and brass provided the structural core for these items, shaped to form the heavy shafts and weighted bases. Makers applied silver through early fusion methods or later electroplating techniques to create the exterior metallic finish.
Old Sheffield Plate pieces involved fusing a thin sheet of silver to a thicker copper ingot before rolling and shaping the metal. Later Victorian and Edwardian pieces utilised electroplating, depositing a layer of silver onto a base metal using electrical current.
Object forms range from standard table candlesticks and desk accessories to multi-light candelabra and converted table lamps.
What Varies in Quality
Quality rests in the crispness of the casting, particularly within the fine details of the Corinthian capitals and base mouldings. Crisp, deeply chased acanthus leaves indicate careful craftsmanship, whereas worn or soft casting details suggest lower grade production.
The durability of the underlying metalwork and the thickness of the original plating separate standard items from superior examples. Pieces that retain their heavy weighted bases and even silver coverage across high points demonstrate better preservation and initial manufacture.
Mappin & Webb·Harrison Brothers & Howson·John Pound & Co·Richard Hodd & Son·Thomas Bradbury·William Hutton·Palmer & Co
The Silver Plated Column Candlesticks Glossary
- Old Sheffield Plate
- An early method of fusing silver to a copper core before rolling the combined metals into sheets for manufacturing. This technique produces a warm tone where the copper base occasionally shows through at high wear points.
- Corinthian Column
- A classical architectural column style distinguished by an ornate capital decorated with carved acanthus leaves. This motif is the most frequent design found on these candlesticks.
- Capital
- The uppermost member of a column, situated directly beneath the candle sconce. On these pieces, it usually takes the form of classical foliate scrollwork.
- Sconce
- The detachable or fixed cup at the top of a candlestick that holds the base of the candle. Removable versions allowed for easier cleaning of melted wax.
- Pricket Candlestick
- A candle holder featuring a sharp metal spike upon which a wax candle is impaled rather than dropped into a socket. This form appears among the lamp adaptations in the selection.
Silver Plated Column Candlesticks: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I date a silver plated column candlestick?
Dating relies on stylistic markers, manufacturing techniques, and any maker marks stamped into the metal base. Georgian and Old Sheffield Plate pieces show different construction seams compared to later Victorian electroplated items.
Examining the weight, base loading materials, and capital design helps narrow down whether a piece originates from the eighteenth, nineteenth, or early twentieth century.
What is the difference between Old Sheffield Plate and silver plate?
Old Sheffield Plate involves a mechanical fusion process where a thin layer of silver is bonded to copper by heat and pressure. Electroplated silver uses an electrical current to deposit a coat of silver onto a base metal.
Old Sheffield pieces generally date from the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, while standard electroplating became widespread during the Victorian era.
Can these candlesticks be converted into table lamps?
Many antique column candlesticks have been adapted into table lamps, while others left the workshop as lamps originally. Conversion work often involves running a cord down the hollow centre of the column without destroying the original structure.
Buyers should inspect whether the fitting sits within the original sconce or requires permanent alteration to the top of the column.
How should I clean antique silver plated items?
Cleaning requires a soft microfibre cloth and a mild silver polish formulated specifically for plated items. Vigorous scrubbing must be avoided to prevent wearing through the thin silver layer down to the underlying copper or brass base.
Regular, gentle dusting preserves the remaining silver coating and maintains the natural patina accumulated over the decades.