Candle Holders & Candlesticks

The section runs from handled chambersticks to fixed single candle holders and a 22 cm four-arm candelabrum. The Elit, Alem and vintage-style series are copper; the Metal Nostalji and metal vintage-style holders are made of metal, not copper, and are listed as metal. Each series is built for a different form and a different candle size.

Types of candle holder and how they differ

• Chamberstick (handled, with pricket spike): found in the copper Elit series and in the metal Metal Nostalji series. A finger loop on the side, and in the base a spike that holds the candle in place. It is made to be carried from room to room. The Elit chamberstick is 10 cm tall, made from 0.50 mm copper sheet and weighs about 138 grams.
• Fixed candle holder: the copper Alem and vintage-style series. With or without a handle, wide-based, made to stand on the table. The Alem holder is 0.70 mm sheet and 174 grams; the vintage-style holder is 12.5 cm tall with an 11 cm base and weighs 118 grams.
• Multi-candle holder: the copper vintage-style four-arm candelabrum carries four candles on one body, stands 22 cm tall and weighs 426 grams. There is also an Alem set of 2, two holders sold together.
• Wide drip-tray holder (metal): in the Metal Nostalji and metal vintage-style series the base opens to 12.5 cm; the candle cup has a 3.9 cm mouth, a 1.9 cm base and a depth of 4 cm. These come with and without handles, in matt black, dark brown and a silver-tone finish.

Will the candle fit?

The first question when choosing a holder is not its height but the diameter of the candle you will use. On cup models the mouth is 3.9 cm, so pillar and dinner candles with a base under that size sit comfortably. On pricket models it works the other way: the spike pierces the base of the candle and holds it, so slim tapers and wide, thick candles both work. If a candle base is slightly wider than the cup, buy a candle one size smaller rather than softening the base with heat and forcing it in; a forced cup opens up over time.

Finish, handle and heat

The copper series come in polished copper, oxidised and nickel-plated; the metal series in dark brown, matt black and a silver-tone finish. Handles vary too: plain, aged-finish and silver-tone handle options. The metal under a burning candle warms up, because metal passes heat quickly; wait for the candle to go out before moving the holder, and always hold it by the handle. Lift dripped wax once the body has cooled, with a fingernail or a blunt piece of plastic, never a knife. Wax residue loosens by itself if the piece sits in hot water for a while; dry it afterwards. There is no lacquer on the copper pieces to scorch or cloud.

A Kahramanmaraş candle holder

The candle holder is where the ornamental side of copperwork shows most clearly. What decides it is not volume or heat conduction but proportion. The stepped dimensions of the Alem body exist for that reason: the base is kept wide so it will not tip, the neck narrows so the flame sits close to the eye. In Kahramanmaraş these proportions come not from a written pattern book but from habit passed from master to apprentice.

What drives the unit cost of a candle holder

Holder height and surface work set the cost. Tall, wide-tray holders take more material and more shaping than low ones. Copper and metal pieces are costed differently, and each finish is a separate process step. Sheet thickness runs from 0.50 to 1.00 millimetres; a thick base keeps its shape better under the heat of a burning candle. Pricket spikes are worked into the body as a separate step. We do not publish prices; for event and retail orders we quote from your list of models, finishes and quantities.

Models and sizes

The first measure is the match between candle diameter and socket diameter; the gap should be a few millimetres at most. The second is holder height: tall pieces are made to stand on the table, handled low pieces to be carried. In the Turkish catalogue the same handled form appears under several Turkish names, including Şinanay; all of them describe the same chamberstick.

On the socket side there are two lines: pricket spikes fix the candle from below, while plain cups take tea lights, pillar candles and tapers. For a vintage-style aged look, the answer on copper is the oxidised finish; on the metal holders, dark brown or matt black. For socket sizes in millimetres, drip surfaces and event quantities, read wholesale copper candle holders and candlesticks.

Which finish gives an aged look

One of the most requested looks in candle holders is aged copper. On the copper pieces it comes from the oxidised finish: a controlled version of the darkening copper goes through with time. The piece is not second-hand or old stock; it is newly made, and only the surface carries the tone of a piece that has aged.

An oxidised surface also shows soot from the flame less than a bright one, which makes it a practical choice for holders in frequent use. The same form in polished copper looks bright and lively; dark brown and matt black, on the metal pieces, give a darker ground. How copper surfaces change over time is covered in copper care.

Setting the candle

A candle should sit in its cup or on its spike without force. A candle pushed in tight stretches the metal from inside and the cup widens over time. The easiest way to steady a loose candle is to drip a few drops of melted wax into the cup and press the candle onto it; once cool, it holds by itself. Trimming the wick to about half a centimetre before lighting keeps the flame small and steady and noticeably reduces soot and dripping.

While the candle burns

Never leave a burning candle unattended and make sure it is out before you sleep. A draughty windowsill pushes the flame sideways, causing soot and uneven melting. Keep the holder at least an arm’s length from curtains, books, paper and dried flower arrangements. Rather than blowing the flame out, use a snuffer, or dip the wick into its own melted pool and lift it back; both put the flame out without smoke. Candle holders do not carry a fire-safety certificate, and we do not imply one.

Frequently asked questions

What does “with pricket spike” mean?

It means there is a small metal spike in the centre of the candle cup that pierces the candle and holds it in place. The candle does not slip, and candles of different diameters can be used.

Does a candle holder get hot while the candle burns?

Yes. Copper passes heat very quickly, so the body near the flame gets hot; hold the piece only by its handle and do not set it straight onto heat-sensitive surfaces.

How do I clean dripped wax?

Stand the holder in warm water for a few minutes and lift the softened wax with a blunt edge. Do not use a metal tool, as it scratches the surface. Dry the piece after cleaning.

Which series works best as a gift?

For a single-piece gift, the 10 cm handled chambersticks; for something more substantial, the 22 cm vintage-style four-arm candelabrum. To complete a table in the same finish, add copper incense burners or copper vases, and see the whole group under copper home décor.

Are all the candle holders made of copper?

No. The Elit, Alem and vintage-style series are copper. The Metal Nostalji and metal vintage-style holders are made of metal, not copper, in matt black, dark brown and silver-tone finishes, and their product names say metal.