1930s Hand-Hammered Copper Three-Light Candelabra by Craftsman Studios, Laguna Beach, No. 720

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Handmade in Laguna Beach, California, this Craftsman Studios three-light copper candelabra brings together flowing scrollwork, a hammered surface, and the … Read more Handmade in Laguna Beach, California, this Craftsman Studios three-light copper candelabra brings together flowing scrollwork, a hammered surface, and the warm tonal depth of aged copper. Marked with the workshop’s hammer-and-anvil emblem and number 720, it is a distinctive example of American decorative metalwork in the Arts and Crafts tradition.

An elongated, shallow tray forms the foundation, its gently scalloped edge rising at either end into broad, inward-turning scrolls. Each elevated support carries a candle cup and circular drip pan, while a third candle cup sits low at the center. Softly ruffled cup rims echo the undulating tray edge, balancing the substantial copper with delicate, organic outlines. The open spaces beneath the scrolls give the piece a particularly graceful profile.

Visible hammer marks catch the light across the surface, which ranges from reddish copper and amber to deep brown, with localized green oxidation. These variations accentuate the curves and lend depth to the metalwork, allowing the piece to hold its own as a sculptural accent even without candles.

Founded by Carl Wirths in Brooklyn around the First World War, Craftsman Studios subsequently established operations in Southern California, producing decorative metalwork in the American Arts and Crafts tradition. The firm’s history includes its absorption of Old Mission Koppercraft’s inventory and operations in 1925, connecting the workshop to California’s wider heritage of artistic copperwork. Its output is the subject of a published historical catalog study, and examples of Craftsman Studios copperwork appear in the collection of the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art.

This example bears the impressed inscription “Craftsman Studios / Hand Made / At Laguna Beach, Calif.” beneath a hammer-and-anvil device, together with the number 720. The mark identifies both the workshop and its California place of manufacture. It dates to the early to mid-20th century, with circa 1930s–1940s offered as an estimated period.

At approximately 9½ inches wide, its low, sweeping silhouette is well suited to a dining table, library mantel, or narrow console. Pair it with oak or walnut, matte pottery, linen, and leather for an interior rich in material and texture, or place it against pale stone for a quieter contrast. Its appeal lies in the combination of documented workshop identity, visible craftsmanship, and a form that remains engaging from every angle. See less