Studio Pottery Cactus Candlestick in Sunshine Yellow and Red

Some candlesticks are polite. This one is not. A hand built studio pottery cactus in sunshine yellow, striped with inky black and grey glaze down every arm, standing on a round base of glossy red and mottled green, and topped with a little red hat that doubles as the candle cup. It makes us smile every time we walk past it, and we suspect it will do the same for you.

It has been made from flat slabs of clay, cut into the classic saguaro shape with three upturned arms, then fixed into a stepped base. The glazes are wonderfully rich: the yellow is thick and glossy, the stripes have run and pooled where they met in the kiln, and the base shifts from cherry red to a speckled verdigris green. The underside is unglazed and unmarked, so we can't name the potter, but every brushstroke shows the hand of the maker.

It stands 21cm tall and 13cm wide across the arms, with a base 12cm across, so it sits steadily on a table or shelf. The cup takes a standard dinner candle.

It is in good condition, with only the gentle wear you would expect to the unglazed rim of the base.

We think it is at its best somewhere it can be seen: on a kitchen windowsill, at the centre of a supper table, or on a bookshelf among plants and other colourful finds. It looks brilliant against a white or pale wall, and would happily join a collection of mismatched candlesticks in bold colours. A tall taper in black, red or bright green suits it perfectly. It would also make a cheerful present for anyone who loves cacti but has never managed to keep one alive.