Candle Holders

Candle Holders

For those who have not spent a lot of time around candle holders, the notion that one size fits all is a commonly held belief. Yet like many other theories that soon prove themselves to be inaccurate, the candle holder is not the uni-tasker it is held to be. As a matter of fact, anyone who has ever seen candle holders up close and personal knows that some perform more than one function, while others are so cleverly designed that they seem to be able to keep a candle burning in spite of the surroundings.

Everyone is probably familiar with the Christmas tree candle holders, which are specially design to contain the heat of the melting wax so as to not present a danger to the ornamented tree, the Menorah with its seven branches, or the Kinara which also has seven branches. Votive candle holders are found in churches where they not only contain the small votive candles that are burned in addition to prayers that are being offered up for others, but they are also glass candle holders that will protect the bearers’ hands when the prayers are being offered during a special service or during a procession.

Candle holders made from enameled glass were used for the containment and also display of Yablochkov candles, while a wrought iron candle holder used to hold short, stubby candles that would provide light in the middle of the night, and were safe to pick up and carry if the need arose.

Visit an old theater or opera house, and you may find wall candle holders that have not been replaced, even though a wall candle holder is now mostly ornamental. In the past, these candle holders would hold the lighting for the theater and were extinguished by specially clad individuals when the performance began. Hurricane candle holders would protect the burning candle by only permitting air to come in through the top via a small opening, thus providing enough oxygen for the flame to continue burning but not allowing in enough air to extinguish the candle. A hurricane candle holder was an essential piece of equipment on the railroads in days gone by.

Today, these kinds of candle holders, together with a wrought iron fireplace candle holder or the floor standing candle holders are used mostly for decoration. The same technology that was applied to the candle holder glass for hurricane lamps is now sometimes seen in cemetery candle holders which sometimes contain burning candles that are meant to symbolize the soul and spirit that live on.

The circle of friends candle holder is a favorite amongst those who like to display their candles on a dining room table or perhaps on a coffee table. It comes in a variety of designs and sizes.