Holt Antiques at Walsingham Mill
18th-Century Italian Antique Gilt-Gesso Candlestick, circa 1760
18th-Century Italian Antique Gilt-Gesso Candlestick, circa 1760
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A characterful 18th‑century Italian gilt‑gesso candlestick, carved in wood and raised on three scrolling lion's paw-shaped feet. The turned and carved stem rises from a shaped triangular base, with traces of original gilding surviving over a red bole ground. The top retains its original wooden candleholder, with no evidence that this was ever a pricket type.
The surface is wonderfully distressed: areas of gesso and gilding have been lost, revealing the underlying timber and giving the piece a soft, timeworn appearance. There are knocks, chips, and old marks throughout, entirely consistent with an 18th‑century devotional or domestic candlestick that has seen long use. It stands well and remains perfectly displayable.
Candlesticks of this kind would have been used in Italian chapels, sacristies, or private oratories, where carved and gilded woodwork formed part of the wider decorative scheme. Today, the worn gilding and exposed wood give it a relaxed, atmospheric quality that works beautifully in both period and contemporary interiors.
A modest but very evocative survivor of 18th‑century Italian craftsmanship, with a surface that collectors of honest giltwood will recognise and appreciate.
Provenance: Italy. 18th century.
Material: Carved limewood. Gilt-gesso to one side only.
Condition: Beautifully distressed surface with age‑related wear, old paint and gesso losses
Dimensions:
Height 42 cm (16.5 in)
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4. FSB - Federation of Small Business.
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