Candlestick
early 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
By the late 17th century brass candlesticks had begun to imitate silver candlesticks in design. From this period onwards comparison with fully marked silver examples means it is possible to date examples accurately and to attribute positively their national origins. Technical improvements in the casting of both base and precious-metal candlesticks also substantially altered their form.
Throughout the 18th century the most popular method of production for brass candlesticks was to cast the entire socket, stem and base in two halves and solder the two together. The two lines running vertically down the ‘stick’ can be seen quite distinctly on candlesticks that have been vigorously cleaned. This construction method made possible elaborately stepped bases and octagonal faceted stems, but by the middle of the century, the base had been simplified and it was often octagonal with a depressed centre. This style had been fashionable in the late 17th century, but now the corners were concave and the stem of tall proportions. This example has an oblong octagonal foot and a baluster stem.
In the mid-1760s, Neo-classicism became popular and the characteristic shape for candlesticks in this style was a straight or tapering column on a raised square or oval base. Production of brass candlesticks was further simplified by the development of a technique for casting the stem in one piece using a removable core. This allowed a much finer and thinner casting to be made for both the base and the stem. It also changed the method of extraction of the candle stump: a push-rod extractor came into use, consisting of a disc connected to an iron rod passing through the hollow stem, as in this example.
In the early 19th century, the new technique encouraged the development of polyfaceted candlesticks, which appeared only in brass. Although apparently heavy, they are in fact light to handle. By the middle of the 19th century, candlesticks were being superseded by oil lamps, which had been vastly improved by various patents in the earlier part of the century.
Throughout the 18th century the most popular method of production for brass candlesticks was to cast the entire socket, stem and base in two halves and solder the two together. The two lines running vertically down the ‘stick’ can be seen quite distinctly on candlesticks that have been vigorously cleaned. This construction method made possible elaborately stepped bases and octagonal faceted stems, but by the middle of the century, the base had been simplified and it was often octagonal with a depressed centre. This style had been fashionable in the late 17th century, but now the corners were concave and the stem of tall proportions. This example has an oblong octagonal foot and a baluster stem.
In the mid-1760s, Neo-classicism became popular and the characteristic shape for candlesticks in this style was a straight or tapering column on a raised square or oval base. Production of brass candlesticks was further simplified by the development of a technique for casting the stem in one piece using a removable core. This allowed a much finer and thinner casting to be made for both the base and the stem. It also changed the method of extraction of the candle stump: a push-rod extractor came into use, consisting of a disc connected to an iron rod passing through the hollow stem, as in this example.
In the early 19th century, the new technique encouraged the development of polyfaceted candlesticks, which appeared only in brass. Although apparently heavy, they are in fact light to handle. By the middle of the 19th century, candlesticks were being superseded by oil lamps, which had been vastly improved by various patents in the earlier part of the century.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Brass, cast |
| Brief description | Cast brass candlestick with octagonal foot and baluster stem, English, early 19th century |
| Physical description | With oblong, octagonal foot; with a raiser rod in the baluster stem. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Bequeathed by G. Russell-Davies |
| Summary | By the late 17th century brass candlesticks had begun to imitate silver candlesticks in design. From this period onwards comparison with fully marked silver examples means it is possible to date examples accurately and to attribute positively their national origins. Technical improvements in the casting of both base and precious-metal candlesticks also substantially altered their form. Throughout the 18th century the most popular method of production for brass candlesticks was to cast the entire socket, stem and base in two halves and solder the two together. The two lines running vertically down the ‘stick’ can be seen quite distinctly on candlesticks that have been vigorously cleaned. This construction method made possible elaborately stepped bases and octagonal faceted stems, but by the middle of the century, the base had been simplified and it was often octagonal with a depressed centre. This style had been fashionable in the late 17th century, but now the corners were concave and the stem of tall proportions. This example has an oblong octagonal foot and a baluster stem. In the mid-1760s, Neo-classicism became popular and the characteristic shape for candlesticks in this style was a straight or tapering column on a raised square or oval base. Production of brass candlesticks was further simplified by the development of a technique for casting the stem in one piece using a removable core. This allowed a much finer and thinner casting to be made for both the base and the stem. It also changed the method of extraction of the candle stump: a push-rod extractor came into use, consisting of a disc connected to an iron rod passing through the hollow stem, as in this example. In the early 19th century, the new technique encouraged the development of polyfaceted candlesticks, which appeared only in brass. Although apparently heavy, they are in fact light to handle. By the middle of the 19th century, candlesticks were being superseded by oil lamps, which had been vastly improved by various patents in the earlier part of the century. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.390-1917 |
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| Record created | January 27, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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