Indian Engraved Brass Candlesticks in the Benares Style, a Pair

A pair of tall Indian engraved brass candlesticks, hand chased in the Benares style with dense floral and foliate scrolling and small creatures worked into the pattern. This is decoration made to be looked at closely, the vines and flowers cut by hand into the brass and darkened with age so every line stands out against the warm metal. A matched pair like this brings both height and real intricacy to a table or mantel, and the round stepped bases give them a steady, elegant footing.

Each candlestick measures 20 x 9.5 cm, so the pair carries good height without tipping into top heavy. The wide sconces take a standard dinner candle, and we have shown them here with black tapers so the engraving reads clearly, though they look just as handsome with cream, deep red, or a soft sage. The brass has mellowed to a rich antique tone, and the etched areas have picked up a darker patina that only deepens the pattern.

Engraved brass of this kind came out of the workshops of northern India and was popular as export ware from the late nineteenth century, prized for the skill in the hand engraving. We would stand these either side of a mirror or a stack of books, or run them down the centre of a dinner table with foliage between them for an evening that feels a little special. On a mantel they frame whatever sits in the middle, and lit after dark the engraving catches the flicker beautifully.

Older engraved brass carries the softening and darkening that comes with decades of use, and here it settles into the pattern rather than detracting from it. Polished back or left with their patina, they are ready for many more candlelit evenings.

A decorative pair for anyone who loves a little detail and a little history, made for long dinners and the warm glow of real candlelight.