Candleholders Information

Every candle needs a candleholder.

Candleholders are essential for candle safety. If you like burning candles, find candleholders that fit your taste, the shape of your candles and the décor of your home. Candleholders will provide a warm feel to your home, and if you select a special one, can be passed on as heirlooms. They also make nice gifts for all kinds of people.

Purpose

Candleholders have a number of purposes. They are used to hold a candle upright, if, like a taper candle, it cannot stand on its own. They are used as decoration. They are used to contain wax drippings in order to protect furniture. They are also used for safety purposes, to keep the flame safely out of reach of furniture or accidental run-ins with flammable items, such as papers or clothing. Candleholders can also keep candles from being overturned while lit. Without candleholders, candles could be dangerous, and could only be shaped like votive candles or pillars.

Material

Candleholders should ideally be made from a fire-proof, heat-resistant material for safety purposes and to keep from charring or melting furniture. Glass, non-heat-conducting metal and ceramic are ideal choices for candleholders. Wooden candleholders should not be used to hold burning candles. Plastic is highly flammable and should never be used in place of a candleholder.

Shape

Some candleholders are bowl-shaped. These are generally used for votive candles, tea lights or pillar candles. Other candleholders are candlesticks, or a long stick that emerges from a wide base and ends with a small cup designed to fit a taper candle. A variation of the candlestick is the candelabra, which has many sticks coming off a single base. Another variation is the pillar stand, which is larger and designed to hold a pillar candle in place, sometimes with a small point that presses into the wax where the candle goes to keep it from falling off the stand.

Decorative Features

Candleholders may be glazed, etched, cut or molded in different ways to create a decorative look. Some are exceedingly simple, while others are flamboyant. Some candleholders have holes punched in the sides to let candlelight shine in patterns on the walls, while others refract the light. Colored glass holders can make the candlelight appear an unusual color, and metal holders may allow wax drips to build up dramatically.

Substitutes and Homemade Candleholders

You can make your own candleholder at home. Form a candleholder out of clay and finish and fire it appropriately. If you are in a hurry and need a candleholder substitute, make one out of an oven-proof bowl or cup. Aluminum foil can be used for small candles, but is not fire-proof at high temperatures.

References

• Candle Licious: Candle Safety Tips
• American Collectibles Guide: Candle Holder: Holder Material