Historic Form, Chrome Finish — Candelabra Set, c. 1900

Three pieces, eleven candles — and rather more presence than their modest dimensions suggest.

This striking three-piece candleholder ensemble consists of a five-arm candelabrum and two matching single candleholders, most likely made in Southern Germany around the turn of the 20th century.

Originally finished in brass, the set has a strong architectural quality. The tall single candleholders rise from open, gently curved supports joined by a circular lower ring, while shallow bowl-shaped drip pans and elongated candle spikes create a distinctly sculptural silhouette. The central five-light candelabrum repeats the same construction on a smaller base, its four sweeping arms arranged symmetrically around the central candle.

Rather than relying on elaborate ornament, the design is defined by line, proportion and construction. Its restrained geometry places it somewhere between the decorative traditions of the late 19th century and the cleaner forms emerging in the early 20th century.

The candle cups and spikes are individually screwed into place and removable, reflecting the practical, carefully engineered construction of the set.

When found at a local flea market in Southern Germany in the early 1990s, the pieces still retained their original aged brass finish. In 2025 the complete set was professionally chrome-plated in Switzerland, giving the ensemble an entirely different presence while retaining its original form and construction. The accompanying photograph documents the appearance before restoration.

Since being re-chromed, the set has remained unused. The mirror-like surface turns what was once a rather traditional brass ensemble into something unexpectedly contemporary — without disguising its age or origins.