Italian Brass Tripod Pricket Candlestick with Lion Paw Feet

A mid-17th century Italian brass pricket candlestick, the wide drip pan raised on a turned baluster stem, supported on a stepped square plinth resting upon three bold lion paw feet. The tall central pricket would have secured a large wax candle, suitable for both ecclesiastical and domestic devotional use.
The tripod base with lion paw feet reflects the Baroque fascination with sculptural vitality and symbolic power: lions, long associated with strength, guardianship, and divine protection, made these candlesticks particularly fitting for use on altars or within private chapels. The architectural plinth echoes contemporary Italian design vocabulary, recalling the stepped bases of altars and tabernacles.