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Description: | Part of an ejector candlestick of Post-Medieval date, AD 1700 - 1720. Only the thumbpiece survives. It is in the form of a flat, openwork trefoil with a small, hemispherical knop on the edge of the outer loop and a transverse, raised collar diametrically opposite the knop. In the centre of the base of the collar is a small, circular stub of metal where the thumbpiece was attached to the rest of the slider. The upper side of the thumbpiece carries traces of gilding; it otherwise has a smooth, dark brown patina. It is 27.4mm long, 21.4mm wide and 4.1mm thick. It weighs 3.44gm.This type of candlestick was made with a large bore hollow stem within which was a sliding mechanism which could be moved upwards as the candle burned down, thus regulating the height of the candle. Each candlestick had a slot in the side of the stem through which protruded the thumbpiece used to operate the slider.An example can be seen onhttp://www.coulborn.com/furniture-categories/metalwork-and-treen/pair-of-square-based-brass-candlesticks-with-slide-ejectors/ which cites Caspall, J, Fire and Light in the Home pre-1820, (Antique Collector's Club, 2000), figure 216.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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