Plate 91. Candelabra

Candelabra belonged to the most ornamental utensils of ancient times, not alone in the temples and public buildings, but in the private houses. Their principle use was for the support of lamps or fire pots in order to bring the light to the proper height. They were sometimes of burnt clay, but in the most prolific period of art they were mostly of ornamental bronze, though often also of precious metals ornamented with gems. Examples of marble candelabra richly and fantastically ornamented have also been preserved. The most numerous and best examples in bronze were found in the buried cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. As manyfold as is the arrangement of their ornamentation and construction, they are always recognized in three principal parts, namely:

A; the base, usually resting on three feet, mostly lion's and griffin's paws, a four-cornered base being seldom used.

B; the shaft, either smooth or fluted, and at times having the form of a pilaster or a tree stem. There were also candelabra the shafts of which were in two parts, the one movable in order that the light might be raised or lowered.

C; the capital, on which a lamp or fire pot rested.

Our plate shows two candelabra of the most usual type. The base of the candelabrum represented at Fig. 1 is three-footed, with lion's feet and paws which spring from a stem of the middle piece, the spaces between being filled out with ivy leaves. The ribbed stem or shaft has at both ends dowels or pins, on the lower of which is secured the base and on the upper the capital. This capital has the form of an ornamental vase. Under the elevation is the plan showing upper and lower views, and at A is the profile of the capital at actual size, together with an elevation of the ornament of the rim. On the plate of the capital we have indicated a double flamed lamp, the plan of which is shown underneath. The handle has the form of a leaf, and thereunder hangs on a chain the instrument for adjusting the wick. On the front are seen two projections with sockets which contained the wicks. The lamp and candelabrum were found in Pompeii.

The candelabrum at Fig. 2 has a construction similar to the one just described. It is a little higher, much more richly ornamented, and belongs to the most elegant examples which up to the present time have been found in Herculaneum. The base is of pleasing form and decorated with fantastic ornament. The paws or feet project from under panther's heads, and these in turn from under leaves, from all of which an excellent transition to the fine fluted shaft above is effected by means of harmonious membering. The profile of the latter is given at C at actual size. Of the greatest refinement is the capital, which is only slightly ornamented, but its graceful form and profile show more knowledge of proportion than many examples of the art much more richly decorated. The plan underneath shows an upper and lower view of this capital, the profile of which is shown at actual size, together with its ornament, at B.