For John

John has asked for more pictures of candlesticks, because he finds the risque banter between me and a few other bloggers of the opposite sex unpalatable.

So here we are - a PAIR of brass sticks dating from around 1730-40 with original side-ejectors in working condition, which are my latest purchase on the candle front.

I have never liked exposed ejectors in early candlesticks, and I have also never liked hidden ones either. It seems so bloody mean to burn the stub down to about 1/4 of an inch if you can afford a good set of holders anyway, but to flaunt your meanness by having the ejectors on the side is worse than vain self-consciousness in my opinion, and should never have been tolerated in polite society. But, I feel I need to have at least one example in my collection, so here they are.

Medieval candlesticks (and later) often had holes drilled into the side of the holder, so that the stub could be worked out with a point and thrown away to allow a fresh candle to be pushed down the resulting hole. That is much more to my taste, but one has to remember that the candles were usually cheap, smoky, tallow ones anyway, and that the holes were usually drilled in by coarse Dutchmen - cheap and smoky by definition (hopefully that will bring about a few irate responses from our clog-wearing, cheese-eating neighbors from the Lowlands).

I paid about one tenth of what these sticks are worth (or would have been worth about 10 years ago), so if anyone wants them for about one half of what they are worth, please get in touch via the usual channels.

Terms and Conditions: This offer is NOT open to the immediate family of 'Tom Stephenson PLC', in case you get any more ideas, Harry.