Indian Dark Wood Candlestick with Brass Fittings – Rajasthan, c.1880–1920

Where the colourful lacquerwork candlestick is festive, this one is serious. The body is turned from dense dark wood — ebonized or naturally dark sheesham — and decorated with applied brass fittings that mean business: spiral brass bands wrap the shaft, brass heart and floral bosses are riveted to the belly, and brass flower rosettes are set into the wide conical base. The candle cup at the top is broad and practical. The whole thing has the weight and presence of something that has been holding candles in important rooms for a very long time.

The combination of dark turned wood and riveted brass fittings is characteristic of high-quality Rajasthani decorative woodwork from the late 19th to early 20th century. The patina on the wood is deep and genuine — the kind that cannot be faked or rushed. The base shows the natural grain of old wood, worn smooth over decades of handling. This is not decorative in a delicate way. It is decorative in a confident, slightly intimidating way, which is considerably more interesting.

• Origin: Rajasthan, India
• Period: c.1880–1920
• Material: Turned dark wood (sheesham) with brass spiral bands, heart bosses and flower rosettes
• Dimensions: 29.5 × 10 cm
• Weight: 423 grams
• Condition: Good antique — patina and wear consistent with age

WARNING: This candlestick does not need your approval. It has been standing in rooms since approximately 1900 and has developed a certain self-assurance about the whole thing. Maison de L'oro suggests giving it a good spot and letting it get on with it.