Vintage French Style Candlesticks in Sage Green, a Pair

Few things dress a mantel or a table as easily as a good pair of painted candlesticks, and these have real character. Cast in metal with ornate turned stems and scalloped domed bases, they wear a soft sage green in a chalky matt finish that settles beautifully into every ridge and flourish of the moulding. The colour is gentle enough to sit with almost anything and interesting enough to notice, which is a hard balance to strike.

Each candlestick stands 16cm tall with a base of 12cm, so they have presence without dominating, and they take a standard dinner candle. As a pair they give you that pleasing bit of symmetry, though they are just as happy separated to carry the colour to two corners of a room.

Set them with tall tapers for an evening table, stand them on a stack of old books for height on a shelf, or pair the cool green with a warm candle for contrast. They suit a French farmhouse look, a pared back cottage scheme, or anywhere a little sculptural detail is wanted.

The paint has a lovely lived in texture with a few small marks that come with age and handling, all part of the brocante appeal rather than anything to fret over. This is the sort of piece that looks like you found it in a flea market in the Loire, even if it came from somewhat closer to home.

Painted candlesticks in this soft sage palette are surprisingly hard to find as a matched pair, so they are worth claiming if the colour is speaking to you.