Spanish candlesticks, also referred to as “Latin” were heavily influenced by Arabs who came to Spain in the early 700s, and were considerably more technically advanced than Western Europe during the Dark Ages. Iron and steel production was carried out at Toledo and other Spanish centers using techniques brought from India, Persia, and Damascus — the famous damascened or watered steel for swords, armor, and tools. Geographer Ibn Hawqal wrote: “Toledo, like Damascus, was known throughout the- world for its swords.”
Early Spanish wide-based candlesticks, known as “capstans” form was heavily influenced by Arab candlesticks – as shown by the “Konya” candlesticks housed in the British Museum. Round, square, and octagonal-based candlestick with short stems, frequently attached to the base with hand-cut threads from the late 17th century are seen today, as are larger dome-based candlesticks. Spanish triangular-based candlesticks and pricket-topped sticks are also attributed to Spanish origin.
Many candlesticks can be attributed to Spanish or Dutch origin – which is logical as Spain held the southern region of the current extent of the Netherlands, along with Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of France from the late 1400s to the early 1700s. The use of the term “Latin” is more appropriate than “Spanish” and includes sticks from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Northern Africa, and parts of the Low Countries.
My collection includes Spanish\Latin candlesticks primarily from the 1500s through the late 1600s, with a couple that are most likely from the early 1700s – again dating is never exact, but logically grouped based on historic research.