Pair of Renaissance Brass Pricket Candlesticks

A highly important and well-matched pair of Renaissance brass pricket candlesticks, each of substantial cast form with bold baluster-turned stems, wide circular bases, and deep drip pans supporting tall original iron prickets. The sculptural quality of the bulbous stems reflects the Northern European taste for strong architectural profiles in domestic and ecclesiastical furnishings during the second half of the 16th century.
Pricket candlesticks of this type were designed for large wax candles, often used in religious or patrician domestic settings. Their heavy weight and wide bases ensured stability, while the tall iron prickets secured candles safely for prolonged burning. Surviving pairs are exceptionally rare, as most examples were used singly, and many were melted down in later centuries.