Italian Wooden Church Candlesticks, 1830, Set of 2

Peculiar, rare, and antique pair of Italian altar candlesticks in the shape of a torch; they were made completely by the technique of manual turning, a special way of working that allows the objects to have a rounded shape: the piece of wood rotates with the aid of the lathe, while the craftsman uses special tools called “gouges” to shape and decorate its surface; they were then painted with a pasty gray-white varnish, which over time has taken on the craquelure effect; on the wooden structure we did not, therefore, consider doing any restoration because its veiled patina and imperfections make it truly alluring and fascinating and attest to its antiquity and authenticity; at the top of each one is a metal “bobeche” of shaped leaves made to hold large candles; when, in more recent times, they were electrified, a candle-shaped lamp holder was applied; the base is made of three lion’s paws in cast bronze. They were produced in a craft workshop in the province of Lucca (Tuscany, Italy) between 1830 and 1835; the area was famous for producing liturgical furnishings of all kinds. The master craftsman was inspired by ancient medieval torch candlesticks found in cathedrals of ancient times and created ours without intentionally distorting the original design. The torch candlestick is a liturgical piece of furniture found in every church, once placed on the ground and only later on the altar; its use dates back to the very origins of the Church, and is clearly and inextricably linked to the symbolism of Light as an expression of Faith, Hope and the Resurrection of Christ. Beyond the environment in which it was placed, the candlestick has always played an important role in people’s lives as it represented the protective element from darkness and gloom. Our candlesticks were created with different heights (perhaps depending on where they were to be placed), the taller one is cm.99 and the other is cm.96 both with a maximum diameter of cm.28. The candlesticks are in their original condition, precisely because of this peculiarity they are a unique piece of furniture of rare beauty. Upon request, they can be equipped with a modern lampshade or a classic one not included in the price (see photos). The electrical system is working but the wiring is European, voltage compatibility in other states should always be checked by an electrician before use. Measurements diameter cm28, height cm.99.