Silver Taper Candlesticks
Silver taper candlesticks are compact domestic candle holders designed for writing desks and dressing tables, offering subtle illumination during the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian eras.
Silver Taper Candlesticks
Silver taper candlesticks comprise shorter, slender domestic candle holders alongside related chambersticks and desk accessories from the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Buyers frequently encounter nineteenth century and Edwardian pairs cast in sterling silver or silver plate, reflecting formal dining and writing habits of past eras.
The selection ranges from classical Corinthian columns to rococo revival patterns and functional chambersticks equipped with handle extensions. These pieces emerge in styles spanning Georgian simplicity, Victorian ornamentation and early twentieth century minimalism.
Materials and Construction
Makers utilised sterling silver, old Sheffield plate and electroplated nickel silver over base metals, alongside alternative materials such as pewter, copper and tortoiseshell. Manufacturing techniques included traditional casting, sheet rolling and silver plating over copper bases, particularly visible in telescopic and column forms.
Decorative elements involve applied enamel work, figural castings depicting cavaliers and ladies, and botanical leaf motifs associated with Art Nouveau design. Structural integrity relies on weighted bases filled with resin or pitch to stabilise the slender shafts.
Current listings feature sterling silver, silver plate, pewter and copper across Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Neoclassical styles.
Distinctions in Standard
Superiority rests upon the crispness of cast detail in classical capitals or figural motifs, distinguishing hand-finished items from mass-produced wares. Crisp hallmarks, proportional balance between base and nozzle, and the preservation of original plating or patination mark the upper tier.
Minor variations appear in the thickness of silver deposits on plated items and the integrity of weighted internal bases. Pieces retaining crisp architectural fluting on column stems demonstrate superior workshop execution compared to worn examples.
Conrad Eduard Mappe·Garrard & Co·Geoffrey Bellam·Mappin & Webb·WMF·Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co·John Pound & Co
The Silver Taper Candlesticks Glossary
- Taper stick
- A miniature candlestick designed specifically for holding thin wax taper candles used for melting sealing wax on letters. These pieces measure significantly shorter than standard dining table candlesticks.
- Chamberstick
- A low-profile candle holder featuring a shallow drip pan and a loop handle for carrying through corridors at night. Many examples incorporate a small conical extinguisher known as a snuffer.
- Old Sheffield plate
- A composite material formed by fusing a thin sheet of sterling silver to a thicker copper core before rolling and shaping. This early technique differs visibly from later electroplating methods.
- Corinthian column
- An architectural candlestick style featuring an ornate capital decorated with acanthus leaves atop a fluted shaft. This Neoclassical design remained popular from the eighteenth century onwards.
- Telescopic candlestick
- An adjustable shaft design allowing the height of the candle holder to extend upward. The mechanism relies on sliding inner tubes contained within the main column.
Silver Taper Candlesticks: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between taper sticks and regular candlesticks?
Taper sticks are scaled down in height and diameter specifically to burn slender wax tapers rather than heavy household candles. They served specialised domestic functions like lighting fireplaces or sealing correspondence.
Regular candlesticks provide greater illumination for dining tables and rooms. Taper versions remain compact for close desk work.
How were chambersticks used in historic homes?
Chambersticks provided portable lighting for navigating dark hallways and staircases before the widespread adoption of domestic gas and electric lighting. The attached saucer caught dripping wax while the handle offered a secure grip.
Many chambersticks included a removable cone snuffer resting in a clip beside the nozzle. Users carried them to bed and extinguished the flame safely upon arrival.
What is Old Sheffield plate?
Old Sheffield plate is an early nineteenth century fusion material created by heating and rolling a sheet of sterling silver onto a copper ingot. This mechanical bonding method leaves a subtle copper seam visible along cut edges.
Electrochemical plating eventually replaced this technique in the mid nineteenth century. Genuine Old Sheffield pieces display characteristic warmth and depth in the silver layer.
Why are some silver candlesticks weighted at the base?
Makers filled the hollow bases of silver and plated candlesticks with resin, pitch or plaster to provide physical stability. Because silver sheet and thin metal spinning are lightweight, internal weighting prevents the tall slender columns from tipping over easily.
This construction method is standard practice across Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian manufacturing. The weighted core remains concealed beneath a green baize or metal base plate.