A magnificent Italian antique fragment candlestick of exceptional sculptural presence, constructed entirely from 18th and 19th century period materials. This example is distinguished by its elaborate gilt petal crown — two tiers of carved and gilded acanthus-form leaves radiating outward from the central column, their surfaces retaining rich traces of original gilding against a warm brown ground — which gives the piece an almost floral, Baroque exuberance quite distinct from its more austere companions. Above the petal crown, a turned urn-form candle cup rises on a slender baluster neck; below, the column descends through a series of molded rings to a broad, bell-shaped base in a layered blue and white painted finish.

The contrast between the gilded upper elements and the pale blue-white painted base is deeply beautiful — a record of the different hands, periods, and contexts from which these fragments were gathered and assembled. The surface throughout is alive with age: cracked gesso, worn gilding, and the ghostly bloom of centuries of use in a devotional setting. An object of this quality and complexity reads as pure sculpture — a centerpiece for a mantel, altar table, or console. It can also be converted into a table lamp by a lamp maker or electrician, making it as functional as it is extraordinary.

Circa: 18th–19th Century
Origin: Italy
Style: Italian Baroque / Ecclesiastical
Materials: Carved and turned wood; gesso; gilt and polychrome; layered blue and white painted finish on base; constructed from period 18th and 19th century Italian antique fragments and materials
Details: Urn-form candle cup; two-tier gilt acanthus petal crown; turned baluster column; bell-form base in blue and white painted finish; suitable for conversion to a table lamp
Dimensions: 5.75" Diameter x 14" H 
Condition: Antique — beautiful age-appropriate surface wear, craquelure, and gilt loss throughout consistent with period ecclesiastical use