Candelabrum

A candelabrum is a candle holder designed to support multiple candles. Unlike a simple candle stand, it typically features a central shaft with several arms or branches that each bear a candle. Some examples are free-standing, while others are designed to be mounted on tables, walls, or other surfaces. The term is used in the singular form, with candelabra as the common plural.

It derives from the Latin candelabrum, from candela "candle". In English it has been used since at least the late Middle Ages. Designs range from a single-branch support to elaborate, tiered or sculpted ensembles made of metal, glass, or wood. In religious settings, candelabra of various forms have appeared in temples, churches, and synagogues, sometimes serving ceremonial or symbolic roles.

Historically, candelabra were important sources of illumination before electric light, and they were common in Roman, Byzantine, medieval European, and Renaissance interiors. In Jewish tradition, a menorah is a type of candelabrum with seven or nine branches; the seven-branched menorah is a symbol of the ancient Temple, while the nine-branched hanukiah is used during Hanukkah. In homes and secular spaces, candelabra remain popular as decorative objects and as focal points for dinners and events.

Materials include brass, bronze, silver, gold, crystal, or wood. They may hold beeswax, tarnished after aging, or modern paraffin or soy candles. In contemporary lighting, electric candelabrum fixtures use candle-shaped bulbs or integrated LEDs to mimic candlelight, combining traditional form with modern safety. The term chandelier is sometimes used for ceiling-mounted equivalents rather than free-standing candelabra, though the lines between terms can blur in common usage.