With Typical Spiral Stem on Turned wooden Base Turned and Painted Wood and Wrought Metal French, c.1880
7.5" high x 3.75" diameter
Provenance: English Private Collection, London
Ref: 11714
A classic "rat de cave" or spiral cellar light candlestick fashioned from hand wrought-iron with a height adjustable candle holder housed within the distinctive spiral or corkscrew stem, making an interesting sculpturally graphic form. As the candle burns down, a metal hook or tab can be revolved to move it up and down the open "ribbon work" spiral stem, allowing one to raise or lower the candle when it was still alight, ensuring a steady light source and more efficient use of the candle. The shape of the handle or hook often resembles a rat’s tail, which is how it got the name rat de cave (“cellar rat”) and was also used to hang the candle to free hands where convenient, which is why they were often used in dark wine cellars. A simple and ingenious mechanism and a fine example of creativity of form and function in the tradition of vernacular artificial lighting devices.
