Of all common metals, silver has the highest reflectivity for visible light—over 95 percent. Before electrification, a silver candlestick was therefore not a luxury, but functional: it reflected the light of a single candle back into the room, making the evening brighter. This effect remains.
How a candlestick is constructed
Three parts define every shape. The socket holds the candle and usually has a drip tray underneath. The shaft connects it to the base, which supports and weights the whole.
The distribution of the ornament reveals the attitude of a piece. If it sits on the socket and base and leaves the shaft clear, the smooth shaft draws the eye upwards to the flame—and you grasp the candlestick where it is smooth. If the ornament extends continuously over the shaft, the surface breaks the light into many small reflections: the flame flickers in the metal, instead of reflecting as a flat surface.
Single-armed or multi-armed
The single-flame candlestick traditionally appears in pairs—to the left and right of a floral arrangement, at the ends of a table, flanking a sideboard. Symmetry is half the effect.
The candelabra combines several arms in one piece. It replaces the pair with a center point and carries two, three, or more flames at the same height. On round tables and in the center of rooms, it is the more appropriate shape because it provides the same view from all sides.
On long tables, a staggered arrangement proves effective: taller pieces in the middle, shorter ones towards the ends. This keeps the line of sight across the table clear, and the light comes from above.
What height for what purpose
On a set table, the sensible height starts at about 30 cm—below that, you look into the flame instead of into the face of the person opposite. Between 39 and 47 cm, the light is clearly above the eye level of those seated and falls from above, like a small chandelier.
On a sideboard, console, or mantelpiece, height plays a different role: there, it's about the relationship to the wall and to what stands next to it.
What is here
Single-flame, for paired placement:
Multi-armed, as a centerpiece: the Ottagonale with two arms and the Inglese with three flames.
Large candelabra from the Signature line, approx. 65 to 66 cm, with arms on several levels:
Hanukkah menorahs for the Festival of Lights, nine sockets with a raised shamash: four versions from approx. 65 to 76 cm, found under Judaica in 925 silver. They are intentionally categorized there—their construction follows their use, not table decoration.
Candelabra or Hanukkah Menorah — the difference
Both carry multiple lights, and both can have nine. However, they should not be confused.
In a Hanukkah menorah, eight sockets stand at exactly one height next to each other, and a ninth is raised: the shamash, with which the others are lit. This arrangement follows the usage—the eight lights should be equal, the ninth does not belong to them.
A candelabra, on the other hand, distributes its arms around the shaft, often on several levels. None is highlighted. It is a table candlestick, not a ritual object—and the nine-flame one among them is therefore not a Hanukkah menorah, even if the number matches.
The four Signature candlesticks belong to a larger line that also includes trays, platters, and ritual objects—if you want the signature style throughout your table, you'll find it there.
The styles
Zaramella Argenti from Padua has stood for Italian classicism since 1948—clear form, clean polish, crafted by the third generation. The house's candlesticks range from understated models with polished zones to the Signature line, whose shafts are entirely hand-chased, some with plastically protruding acanthus leaves.
Nielloa introduces another tradition: Niello silver, where a black metal alloy is melted and burned into engraved lines. The contrast between shiny silver and deep black is particularly striking in candlelight, because the flame only reaches the raised surfaces. More can be found in the Nielloa collection.
Chased — what that means
Chasing means that a pattern is hammered into the silver by hand with punches, stroke by stroke. Unlike an embossing, which is created under the press in one operation, chased work has real depth—the tendrils cast shadows, and no section exactly repeats the previous one.
On a slender, tapering shaft, this is the more difficult exercise: the motif must become narrower towards the top without appearing compressed. If you look closely, you can recognize the handiwork in this.
The recurring motifs come from the repertoire of forms that the Italian Renaissance adopted from antiquity: the acanthus leaf with its curled tips, the volute as a twisted scroll at the transition from shaft to base, the beaded edge as a continuous band of small hemispheres. In the poppy model, a more recent motif is added: the ribbed capsule, which breaks the light into narrow strips.
Light that stays in memory
Candlelight marks occasions—Friday evening, a birthday, a meal that should be different from yesterday's. A silver candlestick turns this into a recurring item: it stands on the table for each of these evenings, for decades, and over time becomes part of the memory of them.
In many families, this is precisely why a pair of candlesticks is passed down. It is not an object that is replaced when it gets old—the wax traces and the darker tone in the depressions are what define it.
Engraving
Models with polished zones on the shaft or a smooth base edge can accommodate a monogram, a date, or two initials—often one each for a pair. Fully worked pieces do not have this surface; there, the underside of the base remains a discreet location. Since the surfaces are curved, we coordinate the size and position in advance. Upon request, we enclose a SilberVerse card with every engraving.
The perfect gift for major occasions
A pair of candlesticks is one of the few wedding gifts that will be on the table at every celebration—for decades. For a silver wedding anniversary, a housewarming, a milestone birthday, or as a prestigious business gift. Since a pair can be divided, two givers each contribute one piece. Further ideas can be found in the anniversary gifts and the gift ideas in 925 silver.
Care
By hand with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft cloth, then dry thoroughly. No dishwasher: cleaning salts attack silver.
Wax residues are best removed by briefly chilling the candlestick—then the wax can be lifted off without scratching. Never use a knife: silver is softer than steel, and every mark will remain. Tarnishing is not damage, but a reaction with sulfur from the air, and reversible with a silver polishing cloth. In chased depressions, the darker depth may remain—it makes the ornament sculptural. More in the guide to the care of silver cutlery and silverware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which candles fit?
Classic stick candles with a diameter of 22 mm, the standard size in retail. If slightly undersized, a drop of wax in the socket helps.
Does the candlestick get hot?
Silver conducts heat well—the socket will feel noticeably warm, the shaft will remain hand-warm. Allow to cool briefly before touching.
Can individual candlesticks be supplemented to form a pair?
Yes, our candlesticks are sold individually. Contact us if both should have the same engraving.
Can different models be combined?
Within one line, yes—the same basic shape in two heights creates a deliberate staggered arrangement. Across lines, it's worth considering the base shape and ornament density.
Solid or silver-plated?
All pieces in this category are solid 925 sterling silver with a hallmark—no silver plating.
You might also be interested in
Matching the table, the silver trays, the silver vases for the centerpiece, and all silverware & dinnerware.
