Wolfgang von Wersin Candelabra, Brass, Three Lights on Tripod, Erhard & Söhne, 1950s

This three-light brass candelabra is a design by the Munich architect and designer Wolfgang von Wersin (1882–1976), who worked for decades for the metalware manufacturer Erhard & Söhne in Schwäbisch Gmünd and led its shift from historicist styles to modern form. Wersin designed three-light brass candlesticks of this type for Erhard & Söhne in 1953; a comparable pair, 25 cm high, was offered in 2018 at the Neumeister auction house in Munich under the Wersin number MT 239. The candelabra thus represents German post-war design of the early 1950s, with its focus on clear lines, economy of means and visible construction.

The construction consists of three slender brass tubes that cross at the centre and form both the base and the arms. Two tubes sweep upwards and outwards in soft curves to carry the two side sockets, while the third rises as a straight stem to the slightly higher central socket. The tulip-shaped sockets with a flat collar sit on the obliquely cut tube ends, and the feet finish in black protective caps. The result is a light, almost graphic silhouette that changes from every angle and holds taper candles at three heights.

On a dining table, sideboard or mantelpiece, the candelabra is a quiet accent that suits a mid-century interior as well as a pared-back contemporary setting. It is in good condition with age-appropriate signs of use; the brass shows a light patina, some spots of oxidation and fine scratches, and it stands perfectly stable. It is 26 cm high, and each side of the triangular footprint measures 17 cm.