Antique Polish Brass Five-Light Shabbat Candelabra

Details

Description

A breathtaking antique solid brass five-light Shabbat candelabra — an exceptional example of Eastern European Judaica almost certainly crafted in … Read more A breathtaking antique solid brass five-light Shabbat candelabra — an exceptional example of Eastern European Judaica almost certainly crafted in Poland in the late 19th or early 20th century. Acquired from a private estate in the Boca Raton, Florida area.
Please take a look at the photos. This is a beautiful piece. It is not perfect. It was apparently loved and used — and that is precisely what makes it extraordinary.
Why five lights?
The custom of lighting five candles on Shabbos was specific to the Cracow region of Poland — making this not merely a decorative candelabra but a culturally and regionally specific ritual object with a documented tradition behind it. Five lights is not an accident. It is a statement of origin.
The Lions of Judah.
Dominating the beautifully pierced openwork backplate, a facing pair of Lions of Judah — one of the oldest and most revered symbols in Jewish culture — emerge from scrolling foliate framework in confident, fluid relief. The casting is assured and expressive. These are not decorative afterthoughts. They are the soul of the piece.
The object itself.
At 5.42 lbs of solid brass and 17 inches tall, this is a commanding physical presence. The beautifully articulated baluster stem rises from a substantial domed circular base with concentric engraved ring decoration. Five tulip-form candle cups on drip pans crown the pierced body, the two outermost arms curving slightly inward in the characteristic manner of the Polish Shabbat candelabra tradition. All components are threaded together with hand-cut period screws — not welded — exactly as 19th century Eastern European Judaica was made.
On its imperfections.
This piece is not perfect — and we mean that as the highest possible compliment. The minor wear, the honest patina, the gentle asymmetries of hand craftsmanship — these are the fingerprints of the craftsman and the accumulated memory of every Sabbath evening this candelabra was lit. It was loved. It was used. That is written all over it.
Dimensions:

Height: 17 inches
Width: 15 inches across candle cups
Base: 6.5 inches diameter
Stem: 8.5 inches
Lion figures: approximately 2.75 inches each
Weight: 5.42 lbs

Provenance: Private estate, Boca Raton, Florida — a community with deep cultural roots in Eastern European Jewish heritage.
Note: Not formally appraised. Sold as described. Every physical characteristic is consistent with genuine antique Eastern European Judaica. Buyers encouraged to conduct independent assessment.

CONDITION:
This piece is in untouched original condition with natural aged patina throughout — warm honey toning with areas of verdigris consistent with genuine age and use. Not polished, not restored, not cleaned. All five candle cups are functional. The hand-cut screw mechanism is intact and operational. There are minor imperfections and slight asymmetries consistent with hand craftsmanship and honest age — this piece was lit, loved, and used across many Sabbath evenings and it shows beautifully. Please examine all photos carefully as they are part of the description. Sold exactly as acquired from the estate. See less