Candle Holder | Oil Lamp

A tall wooden frame with rungs rises from a plank base to a small tray.

This wood candle holder and oil lamp dates to the late 19th century. Oil lamps burn a wick fed by oil, and combined candle and lamp stands reflect how households adapted the same holder to whatever fuel was at hand. A dark, upright construction with two posts joined by crossbars and a small block at the top holding a shallow dish. It rests on a stepped rectangular base, and the surface is rubbed, scuffed, and uneven. It is 6 inches wide, 10 deep and 17.5 high.

Part ladder, part pedestal, entirely its own idea.