17th Century Spanish Baroque Brass Candlestick with Square Base

Details

Description

An honest 17th-century Spanish brass candlestick with a square stepped base and a strong baluster stem, cast in the Baroque … Read more An honest 17th-century Spanish brass candlestick with a square stepped base and a strong baluster stem, cast in the Baroque tradition of Castile and Andalusia. It has never been polished bright: the brass has kept its soft, warm golden patina, with darker tones in the recesses, exactly the way collectors of early metalwork like to find it.

Spanish candlesticks of this type are recognisable by their architectural build. The square base with its raised rim acts as a drip pan, the stem swells into a vase-shaped knop and then narrows to a tall, ringed socket. On the underside you can see the old construction, with the stem fixed through the base by a tang, a detail that you only find on early pieces. The proportions are sober and powerful, and that is what gives it its presence on a table.

A single antique candlestick like this is a beautiful object on its own: on a mantelpiece, a refectory table, a monastery chest or a bookshelf next to old leather books. It also works very well as part of a group. Mix it with other early brass and bronze candlesticks in different heights and you have the collected look that interior designers such as Axel Vervoordt made famous. Style-wise it fits Baroque, Renaissance Revival, Spanish Colonial and rustic farmhouse interiors, but it is just as striking in a minimalist, Wabi-Sabi or Japandi setting, where the old metal gives warmth to clean lines.

We have several other 17th- and 18th-century candlesticks in our 1stDibs shop, from France and Spain, so if you are building a collection, have a look.

Measurements: height 16 cm (6.3 in), base 12 x 12 cm (4.7 x 4.7 in).

Condition: good antique condition for its age of more than 300 years. Beautiful original patina, small dents and wear consistent with age and use. Stable and ready to use. See less