This capstan candlestick, dating to the 17th century, is a robust example of early continental brass lighting. Made with solid brass and joined between the base and socket, it features the characteristic capstan-shaped base, broad and stepped for stability, and a cut socket with a lateral opening that allowed spent candle stubs to be pushed out easily.
Functional, sturdy, and practical, candlesticks like this were used in homes, taverns, and civic buildings throughout northern Europe. Today, they are valued for their early date, utilitarian elegance, and warm patina, making them enduring representatives of domestic craftsmanship from the early modern period.
