Vintage History: Mid-Century Modern Candle Holders
Candle Holders had a bit of a renaissance in the 1960s and '70s. Brands like Dansk, Stelton, Selandia, and others took standard ideas of candlesticks and holders—big, elegant, and taper-ready—and looked at them sideways, sometimes issuing their own candles to fit these designs.
Dansk is probably the most notable due to their use of "skinny tapers," or 1/4" diameter candles. They burn quickly, look beautiful, and according to reports, can cause a drippy mess. Manufactured in France, they came in all sorts of crazy styles, mostly in metal, designed for long, skinny candles that produced a fun visual look while burning. (We offer three Dansk and Dansk-style holders: Two in our Candleburning Spell Kits and one in our Solar Altar Set.)
These days, the skinny tapers can be difficult to find, though there are a few shops on Esty that hand-manufacturer them, some vintage Dansk-brand ones still exist, and Hyoola manufactures ones to fit.
Stelton and Selandia, both Danish companies, aimed for the chime candle/spell candle size holders. Stelton started life manufacturing stainless dinnerware but moved to candle holders as part of a new design aesthetic aimed at helping the company survive Mid-Century fashion changes. Selandia followed a similar pattern, though they appear to have been less prolific. (You can find their most popular design all over our shop, including the Sea Altar Set, Astral Book Set, and Elemental Book Set.)
Today, it can be tough to find spell candle sized holders that are more than just a little ceramic puck. If you'd like something more attractive for your altar, check out our line of spell candle holders by Two Moons Craftworks as we carry on the tradition of unusual designs.
