Floor candlestick

This floor-standing candlestick was produced in Sweden during the 1950s. The designer is unknown, but the construction and form are exemplary of mid-century Scandinavian minimalism and craftsmanship. The structure is fabricated from black lacquered steel and features five opaline glass candle cups, arranged in a clustered configuration at the top of a slender vertical shaft. The overall visual composition is defined by simplicity and geometry, with a play between vertical and radial elements.

The opaline glass cups are shaped with soft, organic contours—bulbous at the base and gently flaring at the lip. Their semi-translucent surface diffuses light evenly and would have originally supported wax candles or oil lamps, casting a warm ambient glow. The black lacquered arms that support the shades are configured symmetrically and extend from a central hub, lending a sense of formal balance to the upper structure. The stem is uninterrupted and linear, reinforcing the verticality of the piece.

At the base, the design deviates from conventional circular forms with a distinctive asymmetrical open ring construction. The black-painted steel ring forms a partially closed circle with a diagonal support segment that connects directly to the upright shaft. This uncommon treatment of the base provides both visual intrigue and functional stability, while subtly referencing modernist experimentation with shape and negative space.

This piece is a good example of post-war Scandinavian design principles, particularly the blending of traditional materials with progressive formal solutions. The black lacquered metal introduces a graphic modern character, while the opaline glass maintains a softness associated with domestic Scandinavian interiors of the era.

The condition is good, with light wear and patina to the lacquered surfaces and no visible chips or cracks to the glass cups. The original finish remains largely intact with minor abrasions consistent with age.

The dimensions are 27 cm in diameter and 115 cm in height, equivalent to approximately 10.6 inches in diameter and 45.3 inches in height.