There are many crystal candle holders available new and used. Like candle holders made of other materials, glass candle holders are made to hold one of three kinds of candles: one or more tapers, a pillar candle or a votive/tea light candle. In a few cases, you may find a candle holder that does double duty, holding a taper on one side and turned over to hold a pillar candle. Candle holders for tapers can hold one or more candles, and frequently are raised above the table surface on columns. In either case, the base of the taper candle holder needs to be snug enough to prevent it from falling over (and starting a fire). Older candle holders also had drip catchers to prevent the then-drippy candles from spilling wax on the furniture.
Small candle holders for tea lights.
If the taper candle holder did not have an attached drip catcher, glass bobeche (bo as in beau, besh as in bash with an e) were available to place on the tapers themselves to catch the drips. With the new drip-less candles, these are not needed, and will probably go the way of the dodo. Hey! A glass collectible!
Glass candle holders for tea lights and votives frequently have high sides that allow the flame of the candle to be protected from air currents and to send the light through the crystal. That way the light can emphasize the glass and the decorations that are on the outside of the candle holder. These can be cuts, etching, applied enamels and paint, glued-on “jewels” and just about anything that is resistant to some heat and not flammable. The glass in these cases is ofter one or more colors. Even cut glass candle holders may be colored rather than clear.
Candle holders of glass maybe stemmed like wine glasses.
Larger hurricane shaped candle holders can hold pillar candles and protect the flames of these candles. These crystal candle holders may have a foot and short stem, or may sit flat on the table. Usually made of thicker glass, these frequently are faceted to scatter the light in pleasing patterns.
Finally, for single, short candle holders for taper candles, there are glass hurricane cylinders, usually of plain glass, to place around the candle holder to protect the flame from wind. These are very elegant, and necessary for candles placed where are currents may blow the candle out.
Silver candle holder with a hurricane-shaped shade.
For those interested in light fixtures before the advent of gas jets and electricity, there are reproductions of medieval candle holders with shiny metal or mirror backs, to reflect more light into the room. There are also workbench candle holders that had glass reservoirs hung beside the flame to try to amplify the light the candle produced. The glass bulbs were filled with water. I am glad to have electricity.
There are many options for collecting crystal candle holders, and as candles in one form or another have been used for hundreds of years, there are many historical forms that can be collected in the original or reproductions. And, as the glass candle holders are usable, they lend elegance to parties and special occasions. Crystal candle holders are a great glass collectible with a wide scope.
The images on this post are from Stock Xchnge.
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