Candleholders and Candelabra

Antique and vintage silver candleholders and candelabra serve as decorative pieces and elegant sources of illumination in any dining room.

A candleholder can come as an individual piece or in a set. These objects vary in size and shape depending on the candles they are designed to hold as well as the era in which they were made. A candelabra is a more ornate and larger version of a candleholder.

Candleholder sets and candelabra can essentially serve as tabletop chandeliers. Adding these objects to your dining table can help establish an atmosphere and an air of elegance any time you gather with close friends or family.

Some of the earliest candleholders were made of clay, but by the 17th century, they were mostly made of silver. English silver made between 1660, when Charles II was restored to the throne — which evidently led to an upsurge in demand for items produced with the material domestically — and 1840, shortly after Queen Victoria came to power, is particularly popular with collectors. From this rich, 180-year period we saw examples of two-handled cups with squat bodies embossed and chased with foliage and animals, toilet services, beer tankards with flat-domed lids, wine cups on simple baluster stems, columnar candlesticks and more.

Later brass, copper and other warm metals gave candelabra a warm glow. Candleholders and candelabra have also been made from glass, crystal, ceramic and iron.

Candleholders and candelabra come in a variety of styles. As candelabra have various arms extending from the main stem, these components can range from two to six depending on size, period and style.

From antique examples to contemporary designs, browse a range of antique and vintage silver candleholders and candelabra variations on 1stDibs.