Object of Desire: Handmade Cast Iron Candle Holders from Sweden

As a California transplant living on the East Coast, I’m still charmed by the concept of “winter.” Yes, the endless gray days and biting winds occasionally get old, and I might secretly wish for a freak-weather event that creates a 70 degree day in Brooklyn—during February—but the promise of a lazy afternoon on the couch or a dusting of snow on a tree bough continues to maintain its magic. One particular activity holds endless fascination for me: decorating the hearth.

This can look different for everyone, but recently I’ve been drawn to the idea of heritage materials—pieces with history, built simply and to last. Enter Vages, a Swedish family design brand founded in 1997 by Vage Gustavsson. Built upon years of family experience with design and blacksmithing (beginning in 1854, with great great grandfather Carl Samuelsson), Vage’s goal is “to pass on the thoughts and ideas of earlier generations by designing and crafting beautiful ingenious products with identity”. Their handmade cast iron candle holder embodies this mission. Built almost like a clamp-on desk lamp, the cast iron candle holder easily attaches to shelves, tabletops, or window sills, imparting a warm glow. Harkening back to the days where a single, glowing candle would light the dark, this candle holder is a perfect accoutrement for those of us on a mission to enjoy winter.

Photos courtesy of Volta Vienna.

Take a look:

For more iron and steel candleholders, head to:

• Object of Desire: Ann Ladson Wall-Mounted Candleholder
• Design Sleuth: Kubus Candleholder
• Old-Fashioned Iron Candle Holders for Long Winter’s Nights