Candelabra

A candelabrum, plural candelabra, is a candle holder with multiple branches that support several candles. The term candelabra is often used as a singular noun in English, though strictly it is the plural of candelabrum; some style guides prefer candelabrum for the singular form and candelabra for the plural.

Candelabra can be freestanding or table-mounted, and may feature a central column with radiating arms or a fan of arms around a base. Variants include wall-mounted candlesticks and larger central pieces used as formal centerpiece lighting. Many candelabra are designed to hold taper candles, while others accommodate votives or larger candles. In contemporary settings, electric candle elements or LED replicas are common.

Materials range from traditional metals such as brass, bronze, and silver to glass, crystal, porcelain, and wood. Finishes include polished, gilded, patinated, or enameled surfaces. Designs span from ornate Baroque and Rococo examples to minimalist modern forms.

Historically, candelabra have been produced across Europe and the Mediterranean since antiquity and have figured in domestic life, liturgical settings, and ceremonial spaces, often reflecting prevailing artistic styles. In Judaism, a seven-branched candelabrum called the menorah is a distinct item; a nine-branched hanukkiah is used during Hanukkah.

Today, candelabra remain popular as decorative objects and functional lighting, frequently incorporated into chandeliers, dining-room centers, and ceremonial fixtures, and are produced in diverse metalwork, crystal, and glass traditions.