Want proof that this mechanical oddity is a candleholder? Just take a look at all the melted wax coiled on the saucer.
Such an interesting device. Besides a candleholder, what could you make of it?
Courting candles were used in earlier times as curfew devices. When a suitor came to call, a girl’s parents pulled the taper up through the clamp and lit the wick. When the candle burned down to the metal, it would go out, and the date was officially over.
I don’t have any examples for repurposing it. But I can imagine it working as a holder for a taper candle, or a single flower. It’s clamp and spring design make it perfect for post-industrial decor. Could it work as a unique incense burner?
If you are clever with candle making yourself, perhaps you could fashion another coiled candle and return it to its original use.
A courting candle in all it’s original glory ( photo courtesy of the Sundance Catalog)
I’m always interested in our ideas, so brainstorm away! Let me know if you’d
like to pick it up in the Annapolis area. I’ll post it on FreeCycle as well.
Can you believe I am currently drawing a blank as to how I would be able to re-purpose this? The only idea I can come up with is to run the wiring needed and make this into an electrical lamp. It would definitely be an interesting piece to have.
It’s so gorgeously utilitarian. But repurposing it is a stumper! I don’t know how it could be discretely wired..the brass is solid. But that’s a great line of thought, very outside-the-box. Someone just emailed me an idea to use it as a jewelry holder. Another awesomely creative idea!
That is a great idea, much easier than mine to accomplish as well.
belum pernah lihat yang seperti ini sebelumnya.. I’m soory if use my language
I may not understand your words, but I appreciate that you made the time to visit me. Thanks!
you’re welcome….
Update on the repurposing saga…other ideas included just appreciating it as a sculpture and fashioning it into a bird feeder. But it ended up going home with a person who actually had the coiled beeswax candles needed to use it for its original purpose. How amazing is that?
I love it Melanie. It’s definitely Steampunk and would probably find its way in front of my camera and into Media Tala but in the meantime it would sit on my writing desk holding a calligraphy brush or a couple of HB pencils, (the ones I always end up searching for), and on the base would sit ink, an eraser and pencil sharpener and probably some sparkly shiny little something for inspiration would be wound around it. In the living room it would have vintage valentine’s hearts suspended from it. Maybe in the kitchen it would hold some herbs tied with string, like a cruet set, and in the bedroom it would keep my watch, rings and any other jewellery overnight on my bedside table. Give me a minute and I’ll think of a million other uses. Oh, twine holder in the garden! That’s it…now I’ve got to find one
Veronica, those are brilliant ideas!