Vintage Table Candlesticks
Vintage table candlesticks bring immediate candlelight and formal presence to a room, ranging from simple brass stems to heavy silver columns.
Vintage Table Candlesticks
Vintage table candlesticks encompass upright holders designed to support wax candles upon dining tables, sideboards and mantelpieces, appearing alongside related forms such as candelabras, lamp bases and candle lamps. When searching for vintage table candlesticks, buyers encounter items produced across multiple centuries, though nineteenth-century examples and twentieth-century adaptations dominate the selection.
The objects take various structural shapes, from classical Corinthian columns and baluster forms to more whimsical figures like standing terrier dogs or rams head motifs. Many pieces show conversion from original candle use into electrical table lamps, altering their domestic role while retaining their antique metal or ceramic shafts.
How they were made
Makers utilised cast and seamed brass, sterling silver, silver plate, ormolu and gilt bronze to construct the structural bodies of these items, frequently pairing metalwork with cut glass or mahogany components. Metal components often involve seaming techniques in earlier pieces or heavier casting methods in later Victorian and Edwardian examples.
Surface treatments range from polished silver and lacquered chinoiserie to gilded bronze and patinated brass, reflecting the dominant revivalist styles of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods.
Listings span periods from the seventeenth century through to the mid-twentieth century, featuring brass, silver plate, sterling silver, ormolu and carved wood.
What varies in quality
Quality rests upon the weight of the metal, the crispness of chased or cast ornamentation, and the integrity of the original construction rather than surface shine alone. Substantial gauge silver, heavy cast brass, and sharp architectural detailing on column capitals separate superior examples from lighter, mass-produced counterparts.
Makers marks and hallmarks from established silversmiths or workshops elevate the standing of a piece, while clumsy post-production conversions for electricity diminish the aesthetic balance of the original design.
Mappin & Webb·Garrard & Co. London
The Vintage Table Candlesticks Glossary
- Corinthian column
- A classical architectural order featuring an ornate capital decorated with acanthus leaves, frequently adopted for tall silver and brass candlesticks. This form became particularly popular during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
- Ejector candlestick
- A domestic metal candlestick fitted with an internal mechanism to push out remaining wax stubs. These pieces date predominantly from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
- Ormolu
- Finely ground high-carat gold applied to a bronze base using a mercury amalgamation process, or simply a golden-coloured brass alloy. It provides a bright, decorative finish on nineteenth-century French and English pieces.
- Sheffield plate
- An early form of composite metal made by fusing a thin sheet of sterling silver to a thicker copper base. It is identified by a thin line of exposed copper showing at the edges or wear points.
- Candelabra
- A branched candlestick holder designed to support multiple candles simultaneously from a single central stem. They appear in matching pairs across silver, plated metal and gilt bronze.
Vintage Table Candlesticks: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I polish antique silver candlesticks?
Silver candlesticks require a soft cloth and a gentle, non-abrasive silver polish to clean the metal without wearing away thin plating or delicate hallmarks.
Avoid harsh chemical dips that strip the natural darkened patination from recessed decorative details and engraving.
Can I convert lamp bases back to candles?
Converting an electrified candlestick back to hold candles depends entirely on how the wiring was installed through the original socket and stem.
Many conversions preserve the internal bore, allowing a restorer to remove electrical fittings and restore the piece to its original function.
How do I date an unmarked brass candlestick?
Dating brass candlesticks relies on manufacturing methods, such as visible seams on eighteenth-century seamed brass or the heavier solid casting techniques typical of the Victorian era.
Base shapes, push-up ejector mechanisms, and stylistic revival cues also offer strong clues to the decade of manufacture.
What is the difference between plate and sterling?
Sterling silver pieces consist of solid precious metal throughout and carry official assay office hallmarks indicating silver purity.
Silver plated items feature a base metal such as copper, brass or white metal covered by a thin outer layer of pure silver.