antique early 19c Polish Russian heavy brass candlesticks candles - w/ drip pans

Description

This is an antique pair of HAND MADE solid brass Polish / Russian Sabbath candlesticks.    They are made of brass, VERY heavy, and in excellent condition.
The design has very nice scalloped bases along with their original drip pans (used to capture falling wax).
Overall, they measure
10 1/4" high
, and are about 4" wide across the base. They are about 150-175 years old, dating to the early 1800s.  Over time the threads have worm somewhat on one of the shafts, and so someone put a big bolt underneath to ensure a tight fit of the shaft into the base.  The other one screws very tightly into the base.
The pair weighs
7 pounds 8 ounces
.  Adding in for the packing material it would probably be a 10 pound shipping weight.  Excess shipping costs will be refunded to the buyer after I ship.
Open to offers.
NO repairs, NO breaks, NO cracks, NO holes, NO missing pieces, but NO candle wax !
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SHIPPING
(How and when you’re gonna get it)
:
Where possible
I will try to combine
multiple purchases into one shipment to save you on shipping costs.
Items
shipped after payment clearing MY bank
.  Please note that this is not a full-time endeavor for me and I do have other responsibilities.  I always try to get these items shipped ASAP, but it might take a few days or perhaps as much as a WEEK OR TWO for me to get your item shipped out, depending upon many factors.
If you have a special situation and you want the item shipped ASAP, please arrange that with me BEFORE you bid or submit an offer for my acceptance.
Please don’t hold me responsible for the shipping/carrier’s efficiency.
I can only do what is in my control to get your treasure to you as soon as I possibly can.
I do not charge any handling fees, nor do I charge for packing materials/supplies.  The charge that I list for "shipping" is based upon many years' (since 1997) experience of selling on eBay, and my policy is to quote a
fixed price
in order to keep it simple.  I generally ship items via USPS Priority Mail, but unless specifically mentioned in the listing then it would be my option to go for another method.  If I know that I'm sending it to you via Priority, then I'll probably indicate that in the listing.
PAYMENT
(You get the treasure, I get the moolah)
:
Payments not received within 3 days from end of auction - buyer risks right to purchase and appropriate feedback.
BIDDING
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Make sure you re-review the entire listing, including questions/answers, before placing your bid since the listing might have additional information added later which comes up at the very bottom of the listing
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CONTACT
(Communication is important)
:
Don't hesitate to email me at SethOnEbay with any questions.
Some comments on Antique RUSSIAN/POLISH CANDLESTICKS
:
Experience
:
I have been exposed to and have had an interest in antique Polish/Russian/European candlesticks my entire life.
I do know something about them, and would like to share some of that with you.
I am what what my good friend used to call a “candlestick buggy”.
Condition
:
The lightweight Warsaw Poland candlesticks are fragile.
If you drop one on its leg, base, or top, it will probably bend (on some with extended legs/feet, it could break off).
When holding it in one hand to polish (clean), if you hold it with too strong of a grip, it can bend.
I am of the opinion that most twists/breaks that occur are caused by this.
The heavyweight Russian/Polish candlesticks are not as fragile, although you wouldn’t want to drop one as it may put an indentation in it or worse – it could bend it.
Oftentimes, the heavyweight candlesticks have worn threads (where you screw the stick into the base) and what may people do to remedy this is put some string or cloth on top of the thread to make it hold stronger.
I see no big deal with this wear and it wouldn’t stop me from buying a pair that had worn threads.
Of course, if they’re not worn they are ‘better’.
Imperfections/Damage
:
Since they are so fragile, MANY of the lightweight ones that you see will have some damage/imperfection – either a twist, a break, a bend, or a repair.
I REVEAL ANY/ALL IMPERFECTIONS on my items in the listings.
Unfortunately for the buyer, not everyone else does.
But, it is also possible that a damage or repair is either done well, or not easily detectable.
I’m sure those sellers that don’t reveal this are not doing it intentionally, but rather from lack of experience/understanding and perception.
Perhaps they believe these twists/bends/breaks add to the beauty?
Whenever I purchase a pair I examine them up and down, inside and out, to assess the condition.
Also, since these candlesticks are quite ornate, sometimes the repair is difficult to spot.
Doe it really matter?
Well, that’s up to you.
But as I said, my intention is to reveal that information to you.
The heavy candlesticks don’t damage as easily.
One of the most common telltale sign of an imperfection from a bend/twist/repair is candlestick HEIGHT.
Ideally, the lightweight Polish candlesticks should be very very close in height and differ by no more than one-half an inch.
That difference could be attributed to slight bends in the legs, which is acceptable.
Any height difference more than that, you really have to question the condition.
So, be very observant of the pictures you’re viewing and compare the heights.
Hallmarks/Markings
:
Most antique lightweight Polish candlesticks were hallmarked.
Due to age and wear, it is not always easy to find the markings.
Sometimes they are actually in the bottom of the bobaches where the candles go, and they get worn out easily.
Once in awhile I come across a pair that I can’t find the markings and I am perplexed by that.
I do not have an answer for that.
Perhaps some day someone will enlighten me.
In my entire life I have never seen a pair of the heavy Russian/Polish candlesticks with hallmarks/markings on them.
Enhancements
:
Sometimes people have turned their candlesticks into functional electric lamps.
Usually that entails drilling a hole down the center (into the top) and sometimes a hole on the base for a switch.
Look for those signs.
Does it detract from the beauty?
Lessen the value?
That is totally up to you.
In my opinion it takes away from the value, because you cannot undo it even if you wanted to.
Enhancements to Repair
:
Sometimes a lightweight candlestick is damaged in a center point and what they do is they remove the entire center point from BOTH candlesticks, and then resolder them together.
The end result is a candlestick that is missing some of its important original workmanship.
I WILL REVEAL THIS TO YOU in the listing if it has occurred.
My Personal Opinion on Condition
:
I really adore these candlesticks.
I guess if we ever have an electric outage I’ll have plenty of places for candles
J
Personally, I enjoy my antique metalware in its original as-is, dirty condition.
I’d rather my antique metalware have some original aged patina on it than look shiny and new.
Oftentimes I don’t even attempt to repair or bend something back into shape since it could actually cause more damage then help if it’s not done right.
My dad was an expert metalsmith, but unfortunately I don’t have him around or his tools to do what he used to do.
Of course, everything I just said is an INDIVIDUAL preference.
You might like your metalware polished, and that’s fine with me.
All of these candlesticks can be polished to a bright shine, if you like.
Again – personal preference.
A Question of Weight
:
You may ask, “Why are some candlesticks lightweight while some are heavy, and does it really matter?”
I can answer that with several comments.
Have you ever heard the riddle/question “What weighs more, a ton of feathers or a ton of bricks?”
Well, the explanation is the same.
Brass and bronze have approximately the same “density”.
Depending upon the true composition (mixture of underlying base metals) a one inch solid cube of brass could weigh more than a one inch solid cube of bronze, OR vice versa !
But, a 14 karat gold HOLLOW bangle bracelet that is ¾” wide and ¼” thick might actually weigh LESS than a 14 karat gold SOLID chain bracelet that is only ¼” thick!
You’ll actually see these wide discrepancies in gold jewelry, which is why I used that as an example.
Gold is an extremely malleable metal, and therefore it is very easy for jewelry manufacturers to make BIGGER/LARGER pieces of jewelry with LESS material (gold) and therefore provide for a more “impressive” end product.
Simply speaking, though, candlesticks that are made of brass are sometimes made HOLLOW, as many of the Polish candlesticks from Warsaw are, and typically might weigh less than 1 pound.
A heavy ‘typical’ (solid) Russian antique candlestick of the same height might expect to weigh 3 to 6 times that.
As to which is better, that’s really a personal preference.
The Polish lightweight candlesticks are usually much more ornate than the antique Russian solid ones are.