Vintage 60s Spring-Loaded Brass Altar Candleholdrs Amber Shade SouthSide Chicago For Sale

This pair of weighted and spring-loaded brass altar candleholders with fabulous hexagonal amber shades were used on the altar at St Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church on the South Side of Chicago from the 1950s until the 1970s. St Margaret of Scotland was founded in 1874, in what would later become the Washington Heights neighborhood on the South Side, at the corner of W 99th and S Vincennes Street. These distinctive brass and amber glass candleholders were made by the Mason Candlelight Co in Middlesex NJ. The candles are held in a unique brass spring-loaded cylinder which slides down into the weighted brass stand, and as the candle melts the spring pushes it up so when the cylinder is removed and the top twisted off the candle stub is at the top and can be easily replaced. I came into possession of these from my father-in-law, whose family lived two blocks away from this church for four generations and were heavily involved in the Catholic community there. When these altar candleholders were switched out for newer ones in the 1970s, the parish priest offered them to my father-in-law who had attended grade school at the parish church in the 1940s-1950s and served as an altar boy there, lighting the candles in these very same candleholders. The candleholders are in used vintage condition but completely intact and functional, both with the original cylinders and springs. There is some wear on the brass bases, one more than the other, and on the brass rim holding the shades where some of the metal has cracked, though they are still bright and shiny. The amber glass shades are in perfect condition without cracks or damage, except for a few tiny chips on the inside of the top opening’s rim which is a bit rough-cut glass i.e. not smoothed during the manufacturing process. Please examine all pictures closely in order to fully assess for yourself the condition of these candleholders and shades. These are heavy pieces which have weights in the bases in order for them to remain stable on the altar. There are slight differences in the weight as one interior base weight has a cutout in the metal, a manufacturing defect, so one base weighs 1 lb 7oz and the other 1 lb 11oz. The shades each weigh 1 lb, so total weight of each candleholder is 2lbs 7-11oz. Together they weigh just over 5lbs. Measurements are: total height 12.25”/31cm, height of stand without candle holder 6.75”/17cm, height of stand with candle holder 7.5”/19cm, height of glass shades removed from stand 6.5”/16.5cm, width of glass shade hexagon at top 4.75”/12cm, shade at bottom 3”/7.5cm, diameter of top and bottom shade openings 2”/5cm, diameter of candle holder cylinder 0.75”/2cm, diameter of stand where the shade is held 2.25”/6cm, diameter of stand base 4.25”/11cm. These incredible vintage candleholders are not only great ‘60s collectibles but also a piece of South Side Chicago history!

Shipped with USPS Parcel Select Ground.

• Thank you for visiting my store! Feel free to check out my other items to see if there’s something else that catches your eye. I will gladly combine shipping if you purchase more than one item.
• Please view all pictures carefully as they most accurately depict the condition of an item. I take the best measurements and pictures that I can but I’m not a professional, so if you have questions or would like more pictures of something please don’t hesitate to send me a message. I describe each item to the extent of my knowledge but I am NOT an expert, only someone with a lifetime collecting all kinds of things and the desire to share what I know. Please note that all of my items are vintage and previously owned, and will have some degree of wear and tear and signs of aging.
• I am an environmentally conscious seller so I do reuse boxes and packaging material from items that I buy, but only if they meet my high standards of cleanliness. I have always been known for my very careful packaging to make sure there will be no movement or breakage while in transit, but if damage does occur during shipping or if you are unhappy with your purchase for ANY reason, please contact me right away and I promise to make it right.
• After you’ve had a chance to examine your purchase, I would be very appreciative if you could leave me some positive response and I will do the same for you. Your response is more important than you know for a small seller like me (I do read all of them!) Thanks again, I really appreciate your business!