Table Centrepiece Candle Holder
A table centrepiece candle holder anchors a dining table with height and candlelight, bringing symmetry and historical weight to a room.
Table Centrepiece Candle Holder
A table centrepiece candle holder combines the function of a candlestick or multi-branch candelabrum with a formal display piece for the dining table. These items take the form of paired candlesticks, grand multi-light candelabras with detachable branches, and dedicated centrepiece dishes or tazzas flanked by candle arms.
The selection ranges from George III and Regency designs through to Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco interpretations. Silver plated items and sterling silver pieces dominate the offerings, alongside examples in brass, bronze, ormolu, and porcelain.
Materials and Construction
Sheffield plate and later silver plating techniques provide the gleaming surfaces of many examples, often built upon a copper or base metal core. Solid sterling silver and cast brass or bronze form the heavier structural elements, sometimes accented with parcel-gilding, ormolu, or white marble.
Makers construct these objects in modular parts, utilising weighted bases for stability and removable sconces or nozzles to catch wax drips. Decorative details such as Rococo scrolls, neoclassical columns, or foliate casting are soldered or pinned securely to the main shafts.
Materials represented across the selection include sterling silver, silver plate, brass, bronze, ormolu, copper, and porcelain.
Evaluating the Pieces
Quality rests upon the crispness of the casting and the proportional balance of the branches relative to the main stem. Heavy gauge metalwork and retained silver plating without extensive wear distinguish the finer examples.
Attribution to documented makers or workshops elevates an object, as does the survival of matching suites and complete sets of detachable components.
Pierre Philippe Thomire·Garrard & Co·Matthew Boulton·John Pound & Co·Barker Ellis
The Table Centrepiece Candle Holder Glossary
- Candelabrum
- A multi-branched lighting device designed to hold several candles simultaneously. Larger examples often feature removable arms that allow them to function as standard candlesticks.
- Sconce
- The detachable metal cup or nozzle fitted at the top of a candlestick to hold the candle and catch melting wax. These components are frequently lost or replaced over time.
- Old Sheffield Plate
- A fused laminate material made by heating and rolling a layer of silver onto a copper base, typical of 18th and early 19th-century manufacture.
- Ormolu
- Gilded bronze, where finely ground gold is amalgamated with mercury and applied to cast bronze through heat treatment. This technique creates a rich, matte golden surface seen on French Empire and revival pieces.
- Pricket
- A sharp metal spike set in the centre of a candle pan to secure a heavy wax taper or church candle rather than a socket that grips the base.
Table Centrepiece Candle Holder: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean silver plated candle holders?
Use a soft cloth and a gentle, non-abrasive silver polish formulated to protect plated surfaces from excessive thinning. Avoid harsh dips that strip the remaining silver layer down to the base metal.
Take care around weighted bases, which can be damaged if immersed in water or exposed to excessive moisture during cleaning.
Can I remove the branches from a candelabrum?
Many multi-light candelabras feature a central finial or screw mechanism that allows the upper branch assembly to lift off entirely. This converts the main shaft into a pair of standard candlesticks for smaller settings.
Check the central socket carefully before attempting disassembly to ensure the fitting is designed to separate without damaging the threads.
What periods do these candle holders represent?
The available pieces span from the 18th century through the Georgian, Regency, Victorian, and Edwardian eras, extending into Art Deco and mid-20th-century designs. Stylistic revivals such as Rococo and Classical Revival also appear frequently.
Hallmarks, construction methods, and materials generally help anchor an object within its specific period of origin.
How were table centrepiece candle holders used historically?
These pieces served as the literal and visual focal point of formal dining tables during candlelit meals. They provided functional illumination while signalling the household's social standing and taste.
Some designs incorporated dishes or tazzas for fruit or confectionery alongside the candle branches, combining lighting with table service.