By Ivan Smith
Candles have been around for a long time, which means that candle holder have too. And artistic metal stands, what we today would call metal art candle holders’ have been found at many ancient archaeological digs. Oil lamps were the first form of artificial lighting discovered by man. The light given off by a cloth wick in a pool of oil allowed ancient man to function even after the sun went down. The problem with oil is that being liquid, it was difficult to store and if the oil spilled from a burning lamp, it could cause either a fire or sever burns to the flesh. Although oil lamps continued to be in use till the advent of electricity, the discovery that solidified animal fat would provide and equally good sources of fuel to a burning wick caused the candle to come into being and its popularity soon equaled and often overtook that of the oil lamp.
Since candles are, because of their shape, intrinsically unstable, candle holders were required. The earliest known ones were just flat pieces of metal with a point or pin on the surface to which a candle could be firmly fixed. Once this purpose was achieved, metal workers looked towards enhancing their visual appeal and making them items of beauty. Thus was born the metal art candle holder.
Although nearly all modern indoor lighting is done by electricity, candle and metal art candle holders remain popular. There is nothing like soft candle light to add romance and atmosphere to a room. And if the candle is fitted to a metal art candle holder, the appeal is greatly enhanced. An enduring image is of the romantic dinner for two with a gleaming candelabra in the middle of the table. The candelabra is a metal art candle holder! Besides the effect of candle light, a surprising number of people still prefer to use candles indoors as they feel that candle light adds energy to a home.
Metal art candle holders are a great way to decorate and add character to your home. Even is you do not want to actually use them, their presence adds glamour to a room. Metal art candle holders can range from a wrought iron piece of elaborate design for holding one candle to large pieces that hold many. These can be table pieces as in the case of candelabras, to wall fixtures and even old fashioned candle fitted chandeliers.
Available in a wide rage of metals, from simple wrought iron or steel to sterling sliver and gold, metal art candle holders need not be conventional in design. Many artists produce metal art candle holders in modern designs using modern metals such a stainless steel, aluminum and a variety of alloys.
Turn off the electric lights and try using candles on elegant metal art candle holders to light up a room. The warmth and atmosphere that candle light creates may tempt you to think of candle light not just a back up in times of power outages, but as a part of your lifestyle. Metal art candle holders are not just decorative items in themselves, but when put to use, can change the whole tone and mood of a room.
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