Foreshadowing modern design in their functional simplicity, these nineteenth century candlesticks consist of columns adorned with only a ring detail separating the shaft from the flared bases and collars. Their height raises candles to a level that is perfect for a table setting.

Candlesticks of this form most frequently appear with classical figures in relief around the lower part of the column. Occasionally Wedgwood produced the sticks without the decorative ornament, giving us the opportunity to appreciate the purity of the timeless design and the quality of the basalt body.

When we think of neoclassical design, the image of toga-clad figures often pops into our heads. The movement was perhaps more firmly rooted in an appreciation of ancient architectural forms. These sticks, though adaptable to any modern setting, recall the purity of Doric columns, the simplest and most ancient of the classical column shapes.

Please note that when paired at a close distance, one stick is revealed as 1/8 in. higher than the other. Separation diminishes the effect.