Vintage Brass Candle Sticks
These vintage brass candle sticks bring weight and warm metal tones to a table, combining utility with periods ranging from Georgian to Art Deco.
Vintage Brass Candle Sticks
Vintage brass candle sticks span domestic and ecclesiastical forms, appearing most often as pairs from the Victorian and Georgian eras alongside twentieth-century examples.
The selection includes tall church candlesticks, ejector designs with internal pushrods, chamber sticks with trays, and barley twist stems.
Materials extend beyond standard brass to include bronze, gilt bronze, silver plate, copper, and occasional combinations with mahogany and walnut.
Materials and construction
Construction relies on cast brass or sheet brass formed through seaming, turning, and soldering, often incorporating internal mechanisms such as ejectors for removing candle stubs.
Surface treatments vary from polished finishes to old patinas, with some pieces utilising silver plating or mercury gilding over bronze.
Secondary materials like oak, treen walnut, and glass inserts appear in specific nineteenth and twentieth-century designs.
Vintage Brass Candle Sticks Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for vintage brass candle sticks among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Several travel companions in this collection double as pastry buns when packed for a bumpy stagecoach ride.
Craft and proportion
Quality rests upon the crispness of the casting detail, the weight of the metal, and the balance of the proportions from base to socket.
Higher grade examples show clean turning on the lathe, secure joints without crude solder repairs, and original components such as matching pushrods or drip pans.
J.T. & Co·James Clews
The Vintage Brass Candle Sticks Glossary
- Ejector candlestick
- A design featuring a small internal slide or lever that pushes the candle remnant out of the socket. This mechanism simplified cleaning in domestic settings.
- Chamber stick
- A low candlestick mounted in a shallow tray with a handle, used for carrying light through a house at night. Many include a conical snuffer resting in the tray.
- Barley twist
- A spiral carved or cast column resembling a twisted rope, popular on stems from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
- Brighton bun
- A compact, rounded travelling chamber stick resembling a bun, designed to be packed safely for journeys.
Vintage Brass Candle Sticks: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I date brass candlesticks?
Dating relies on manufacturing techniques, such as seamed shafts found in mid-eighteenth-century pieces compared to solid cast bases from the Victorian period. Base shapes, pushrod designs, and screw threads also provide clues to the decade of manufacture.
Changes in stylistic revival movements, from Gothic to Art Deco, help narrow down pieces produced in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
What are ejector candlesticks?
Ejector candlesticks contain an internal metal plate attached to a side thumbpiece, allowing the user to push up and remove stuck candle wax and remnants easily.
This practical innovation became common during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries for domestic lighting.
How should I clean vintage brass?
Dusting with a soft cloth preserves the historic patina, which many collectors prefer to keep dark and undisturbed. Avoid harsh chemical polishes that strip away the aged surface.
If cleaning is necessary, use a mild, non-abrasive soap solution and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.