The bronze candlestick is shaped like a horse’s head on a base and can hold one candle. The small-scale candlestick is light and has a noble golden color. The decor is meticulously planned to the smallest detail. The rendering of a wind-whipped mane, thin graceful legs, a powerful torso, and muscle contours is very realistic. Curiously enough, that is no ordinary horse, but a frisky seahorse, which has a tail instead of hind limbs. The handle is embellished with lacework. The support platform is designed to resemble a seashell. The candlestick is both beautiful and practical: its base prevents drops of wax from accidentally falling on furniture.

Several centuries ago, candles still were the main source of lighting, so candlesticks were present in almost every home. They were used to securely fix a burning candle and transfer it from one place to another. Candlesticks were mostly made of wood, metal, and stone, and initially, little thought was given to their design. But over time, candlesticks were turning into true works of art.

It was Renaissance that gave candlesticks their decorative function. Artists and sculptors began decorating them with embossed carvings, figurines, precious stones, and rich patterns. Gilded items decorated with drawings, angels, and monograms also became popular. In the 18th century, candlesticks began to be produced from various metals, such as brass, bronze, silver, and gold. The novel “Dead Souls” by Nikolai Gogol has the following extract,

The turn of the 19th century brought new changes to the manufacture of candlesticks: inexpensive but durable cast iron served as the material for their production, although wrought iron was still a popular choice as well.