What exactly is a candelabra?

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Tuesday, September 24, 2019

We have all heard of candlesticks or candle stands in everyday life. Candelabras are just another version of a candle stand, yet famous in their own right both now and in the past. A candelabra is put simply - a candlestick that comes with multiple arms for holding candles.
 
The term candelabra comes from the Latin word candelabrum, which means a candle-tree. This type of candlestick gets its name for the very reason that the candle stand comes with many branches or arms to hold multiple candles, and often resembles a tree.
 
A candelabra was an important household item during days of old. Before the advent of electricity, one would often need a lot of candles to provide enough light after sunset, and even with electricity, the candle was the only option available to most people.
 
Candelabras were usually very ornate, which made them a desirable and decorative object in the house. Having ornate candelabras was also a way of displaying one’s wealth. This factor took the popularity of candelabras higher during the 1800s. The silver ones especially were very decorative and added to the aesthetic feel of a room or dining table. These were also available in different materials such as silver, gold, brass, copper, iron or crystal. The earliest records of these pieces date back to the 16th century.
 
Candelabras have always been synonymous with good taste and the many antiques available today can be luxurious, dramatic, or just simply beautiful. If you want to bring in some grandeur, history and a spectacle to a room or table, these are a great option. We have a few good pieces in our collection at Period Oak Antiques. Browse through to have a look