Iron Spiral Candlestick with Small Base

A hand-forged iron candlestick with a tight coil of iron wound around the candle and a small hook at the top. As the candle burns down, you wind it up the coil so the flame stays at about the same height, and the dished pan underneath catches the wax. In France a spiral candlestick like this is called a rat de cave, or cellar rat, after the small lights carried down to the wine cellar. In England and America they are known as courting candles. We found it in a shop in Avignon in October 2026. It dates from the 19th century. It stands on a small dished pan with three slender feet. We would light it on a bedside table or a deep windowsill, or pair it with our wide-base spiral candlestick, which is sold separately. One available.