18th C. Hand Wrought Iron Cellar Candleholder

Cellar Candleholders, as the name implies were intended for use in cellars and as such were pretty simplistic. This would be the type of lighting device that an innkeeper would use to go down into the cellar to inspect his barrels.  Functional in nature, many times they would have two candle sockets which would allow for two candles to be lit for maximum light, or a partly consumed candle to be transferred to the shorter socket as an economical measure.

With its sturdy rectangular shovel-like pan and suspension hook, it served its function well but the smith provided an additional decorative detail in the nicely formed twisted handle with a ball terminus and four penny feet.

This is a relatively rare piece of early lighting for the collector and is in excellent condition . . . 11" long and 5-1/2" wide.
 
R10G17547

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