Silvered Candlestick Pair
A silvered candlestick pair brings ambient candle illumination to a dining table or mantelpiece through reflective metallic surfaces.
Silvered Candlestick Pair
A silvered candlestick pair consists of matched table supports designed to hold taper candles securely upright, often encountered in silver plate, sterling silver, or wood coated in silver leaf.
The selections span centuries of domestic lighting, featuring Georgian columns, Victorian Corinthian designs, Edwardian dwarf models, and Arts and Crafts pewter examples.
Makers utilise various methods to achieve the reflective finish, ranging from electroplating and Old Sheffield Plate to hand-applied silver leaf over carved wood or bronze.
How They Were Made
Metals form the structural core of many pieces, utilising copper, brass, or Britannia metal as a base for electroplated nickel silver or traditional Old Sheffield Plate.
Carved timber provides the substrate for older Continental torcheres and candle stands finished with delicate silver leaf.
Casting techniques allow workshops to produce complex figural elements, Corinthian capitals, and neoclassical motifs before final polishing.
Some Victorian designers incorporated ceramic tortoiseshell and sculptural greyhounds into domestic lighting.
What Varies in Quality
The crispness of cast ornamentation and the depth of hand-chasing separate standard production items from workshop masterpieces.
Weight distribution and structural balance determine stability, distinguishing solid sterling or heavy bronze pieces from lighter plated wares.
Garrard and Co·Archibald Knox·Mappin and Webb·Hawksworth Eyre·Matthew Boulton·James Fenton·WMF
The Silvered Candlestick Pair Glossary
- Old Sheffield Plate
- A method of fusing a thin sheet of sterling silver to a thicker copper base under heat and pressure before rolling.
- Corinthian Column
- A classical architectural column design featuring ornate acanthus leaves on the capital, frequently adapted for silver and plated candlesticks.
- Torchere
- A tall stand or candlestick designed to elevate a light source above furniture level.
- Electroplated Nickel Silver
- A base metal alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc coated with a layer of pure silver through an electrolytic process.
- Pricket
- A sharp metal spike on a candlestick designed to impale and secure thick wax candles.
Silvered Candlestick Pair: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I date a silvered candlestick pair?
Dating relies upon examining hallmarks, manufacturing techniques, and stylistic markers such as Neoclassical columns or Arts and Crafts motifs.
Assay marks and maker stamps provide precise years for sterling items, while plating methods indicate 19th-century origins.
What is the difference between sterling and plated pairs?
Sterling silver pieces consist entirely of solid precious metal and bear official government hallmarks indicating their purity standard.
Plated versions feature a base metal substrate covered with a thin layer of silver applied through mechanical bonding or electroplating.
Can I use modern candles in antique candlesticks?
Most antique sockets accommodate standard taper widths, though hand-dipped candles may require slight trimming at the base to fit securely.
Inserts or drippers help protect older surfaces from hot wax accumulation during prolonged use.
How should I clean silvered metal surfaces?
Maintenance requires soft microfibre cloths and specialised non-abrasive polishes formulated specifically for silver or plated items.
Aggressive rubbing must be avoided to prevent wearing through thin electroplated layers or delicate silver leaf.