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This is a brass candlestick with a heavy turned base to prevent it being knocked over. It is designed with a spring and a nozzle so that as the candle burnt down the spring would press the candle upwards, ensuring that the wick always protruded at the same height. Nothing is known of its origin.

1 candlestick: metal [brass]; good condition

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – Nothing is known of the origin of this candlestick. // It is made of brass and has a heavy base so that it could not be easily knocked over. It consists of a main stem, on a turned base, with a spring in the top and a nozzle which fits over the tip of the stem and fastens down. The candle was put in the candlestick on top of the spring, the nozzle fitted over it which, when it was fastened down, pressed the spring down also. Only the wick would protrude from the nozzle, and as the candle burnt down the spring would press the candle upwards, so that the wick would always protrude at the same level. // The candlestick is 12.75 inches in height and 4.5 inches in diameter across the base.', Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) - 'A list of the contents of the East Hendred museum. July 5 1940 // 491. Candlestick with spring inside. John Tripp of Abingdon who was born on June 26 1835 and died March 15th 1938. He had a wonderful memory up to the end. He was one of the earliest antique dealers andwhen [sic] he went to a sale none of the other dealers would bid against him.'

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)