I was playing around with my collection of brass candlesticks today to create a dramatic centerpiece. (Think I have a problem?) I actually have a very long table, so there’s a chance that even this quantity will get a little lost. Brass candlesticks are super cheap at flea markets, but if you need a large quantity in a hurry, Etsy is your best bet. There are plenty of lots for sale and you can build up your collection in one swoop.

The history of the candle was one of the first essays that I wrote for Elements of a Home. It can be hard to remember that in the not-so recent past, you’d be lighting a matching instead of flicking a switch when you wanted a little extra light. Candles were also expensive. You could tell just how much money someone was spending based on the number and kind of candles they were lighting.

One of my favorite stories in the book is of how London’s famous luxury department store, Fortnum & Mason, owes its start to candles. In 1707, William Fortum was working as a footman for the Royal family in Kensington Palace. At the time, one of the perks of servitude was receiving the unused candle ends, which would be divided amongst the staff based on rank and seniority -- a bonus paid in candles. The Royal family insisted on having new candles every night, which meant there were a lot of high quality candle ends to be parceled out. William Fortum cleverly sold his share of the half-used candles and funneled the profits into a grocery business. His business acumen paid off. Today, Fortum & Mason is the official grocer of the Queen and the return on the used-candle investment comes in at about $115 million.

For my candle set-up, I wanted an ombre effect so I went with shades of red, but I’d also love this look in shades of green. (Most of the candles are from Mole Hollow candles, an artisan company in Massachusetts, which has so many beautiful colors.)

Creating a Candle Centerpiece