A lasting light

5th January 2023

A number of rare and early candlesticks are expected to make in the region of £10,000-15,000 as they light up a Salisbury auction house in the New Year.

The holders, dating from as early as the 13^th century, include examples from the collection of Frederick William Robins, author of The Story of the Lamp, and a specialist in early English sources of illumination. They are due to come under the hammer as part of the Furniture, Works of Art & Clocks auction on 18^th January.

Crafted primarily from metal alloys including pewter, bronze, brass and a rare copper alloy called latten, the candlesticks would have been in regular use and at the heart of domestic and religious life for hundreds of years.

“Humans have used candles as a source of light for over 5,000 years and the candlestick is a rare example of an everyday object that is as recognisable today as it would have been in medieval times,” explained Works of Art specialist, Mark Yuan-Richards. “Candle-making became a guild craft in England in the 13^th century, with candles at that time being made of tallow (animal fat).”

With the advent of gas and electricity, throughout the 20^th century candlelight became less of a necessity and more of a decorative luxury, but candles are still regularly used in religious ceremonies and to create atmosphere.

“The old romantic notion of a candlelit supper shows the enduring appeal of traditional candlelight, and in this age of energy austerity candlesticks could be just as relevant to the modern householder as they were in the 16^th century,” continued Yuan-Richards. “Unlike other purely decorative objects these candlesticks hold an additional appeal of having been so vital to the person to whom they belonged. Who can say what letters might have been written by the light of the candles they held, or whose bedside they might have helped to illuminate?”

Estimates for the candlesticks range from £200 to £3,000.