About the product:

🛕 🕯️ Name/Type: Antique Japanese candle holder in the shape of a turtle - In 2 parts

🌍 Origin: Japan - Engraving present under the candlestick (see photo)

🕰️ Year: Estimated 1950 - 1960

✨ Condition: Good - Beautiful patina on the metal

📐 ⚖️ Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.9 x 6.2 centimeters

⚖️ Weight: 297.3 grams

🧬 Material: Metal - Glass

📦 Packaging: Individually (only one available) - Wrapped in paper

🎁 Perfect for giving as a gift or treating yourself!

🛕 History and symbolism

🕰️ Origin and history

Glass and metal candlesticks from Japan mainly appeared from the 17th century onwards, during the Edo period (1603-1868), when Japanese craftsmanship experienced a remarkable boom in metallurgy, glassmaking and decorative engraving .
These objects were used to illuminate temples, tea houses, and aristocratic residences , but were also considered refined works of art , where aesthetics and function come together.

The combination of blown glass and worked metal (brass, bronze, iron or gilded copper) reflects the technical mastery of Japanese artisans , capable of creating pieces that are both delicate and durable , often decorated with symbolic motifs inspired by nature and Buddhism.

🔹 Technique and Manufacturing

The characteristics of old Japanese candlesticks are:

• A glass body , sometimes colored or engraved, used to diffuse the light of the flame in a soft and soothing way .
• A metal structure, either chiseled, hammered, or openwork, that protects the glass and adds a decorative relief .
• Decorations often inspired by nature : cherry blossoms, maple leaves, stylized waves, clouds or dragons, symbols of longevity, prosperity and harmony with the universe .

Glass-metal fusion requires exceptional craftsmanship: the metal is worked to fit perfectly with the glass , ensuring stability and beauty while enhancing the flame.

🌺 Spiritual and aesthetic symbolism

In Japanese culture, the light of the candle is more than just illumination: it carries spiritual meaning .

• Light and purification : the candlestick is used in Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines to illuminate the altar and purify the sacred space .
• Ephemerality and beauty : the flame symbolizes the transience of life ( mono no aware ), a central theme in Japanese aesthetics.
• Union of elements : glass and metal represent the fusion of fragility and strength , the balance between material substance and spiritual light .
• Ornament and meditation : in tea houses and ceremonies, the candle holder accompanies meditation and the refinement of the senses , creating an atmosphere conducive to contemplation.

⚒️ Ritual and domestic uses

• In Buddhist temples , it is used to accompany offerings and to illuminate sacred statues during ceremonies.
• In aristocratic or bourgeois homes , it accompanies the tea ceremony , creating an atmosphere of tranquility and refinement .
• Some candle holders had walls engraved with mantras or symbolic motifs , thus diffusing light and blessing at the same time.

🌞 Conclusion

Antique Japanese glass and metal candlesticks are both utilitarian objects, works of art, and spiritual symbols .
They embody the fusion of craftsmanship and philosophy , where light becomes a metaphor for life, meditation, and harmony between man and nature .

"Fragile glass holds the light, solid metal guides it—together, they reveal the soul of the Japanese world."