Taper candles are the cheapest way to change how a room feels after dark. The holders are what stop it looking like a chain restaurant.
Here's how to arrange sculptural iron candleholders so they read as considered rather than cluttered, plus what to know about the candles themselves.
Group in odd numbers, at different heights
Three pieces at three heights nearly always looks better than two matching ones. The eye travels up and down instead of side to side, and the grouping reads as one composition.
Our pieces are built for this. The Calla Lily Iron Candlestick stands 19 inches, the Jasmine in Bloom 20 inches, and the Dreams Candle Holder 15 inches, in iron and copper.
If you'd rather not assemble a set piece by piece, both the Calla Lily and Jasmine in Bloom are sold singly or in sets of two or three, from $110. The Cats in Wind set arrives as three at once ($270), already varied in shape and gesture.
Let each piece keep its own space
Handmade iron has movement in it. Crowd the pieces and the silhouettes blur together, so leave a hand's width between holders and let the shapes show.
The Friends Candle Holder (from $110) is made for exactly this. Each one is forged individually with its own height and lean, so a group of three looks like a conversation rather than a matching set.
Where they work
- Dining table. Keep holders below eye level so people can see across the table, or push tall ones to the ends.
- Mantel. Group to one side rather than centring everything. Balance it with something low and wide at the other end.
- Entry console. Two heights plus a bowl or a stack of books is enough.
- Bedside. One holder, one candle, lit for ten minutes before sleep.
Beeswax or paraffin?
Beeswax costs more and is worth it for candles you actually light. It burns slower and cleaner than paraffin, and its warm colour suits dark iron better than bright white ever does.
Two of our holders arrive with natural beeswax tapers included: the Lover's Knot Candle Holder (from $210), which has a pebble-weighted base, and the One Heart Candle Holder (from $160).
One thing to check before buying candles: cup size. Several of our holders come in a standard 1/2 inch cup or a larger 7/8 inch cup, and tapers are sold in both widths. Pick the cup first, then buy candles to match.
Burning them safely
- Trim the wick to about a quarter inch before each burn. A long wick smokes and blackens the iron.
- Never leave a lit candle unattended, and keep them away from curtains and anything overhanging.
- Keep flames well clear of faux stems and dried branches. Artificial botanicals are not fire-safe, so style them on a separate surface.
- Let iron cool completely before you handle or move it.
For the winter holidays
The Tree of Light Menorah ($500) is a hand-forged menorah shaped like a branching tree, so it sits comfortably on a mantel all winter rather than only during Hanukkah.
Order early. Hand-forged pieces are made after you order and usually ship in about 10 days, and delivery takes another 3 to 7 business days within the US.
See all candleholders, or email hello@boughandiron.com if you want help putting a group together.