Jugendstil / Art Nouveau Three-Light Candelabra — Sweden, circa 1900–1920

A beautiful and characterful piece of Swedish decorative art from the turn of the twentieth century. This three-light brass candelabra is a confident expression of the Jugendstil aesthetic — the Scandinavian and German cousin of Art Nouveau — with its organic, flowing forms combined with the geometric rigidity that defines the style at its most sophisticated.

The design is immediately striking. A domed, two-tiered base rises to a slender stem formed from two parallel upright bars, cross-braced at the midpoint and opening at the top into an elegant heart- or flame-shaped cutout from which the three arms extend. The outer two arms sweep outward and slightly upward, while the central arm rises directly above — each terminating in a turned brass bobeche and a classically proportioned tulip-shaped candle cup. The combination of linear structure and organic motif is entirely typical of the best Jugendstil metalwork of the period.

The candelabra is marked 65 a on the underside of the base. It was sourced in Sweden and research confirms a Swedish origin, though the maker has not been identified with certainty.

We rarely polish brass candleholders, preferring to preserve the natural patina that comes with age. This piece, however, arrived in a condition that left us no choice — and the result speaks for itself. After careful cleaning it presents beautifully, with a warm, even brass tone and excellent surface quality throughout. A piece at least a century old that looks every bit as good as the day it was made.

The condition is excellent. No chips, cracks, scratches or repairs noted. Polished brass throughout.