Wonderfully sculpted of brass, this small candle snuffer is perfect for those who wish to keep their altar tools hidden away or those who just don`t quite have the space for larger and more cumbersome materials. It`s handle is 4 1/4" long and ends in a hinge that allows the 1 1/2" diameter bell at the end to swivel as it is lowered to snuff out your candle`s flame.
About Candle Snuffers:
When a candle burns, it is the wax that provides the fuel, not the wick. As the wax is consumed, if the wick is not shortened accordingly, the flame could potentially grow in size to match the length of the wick. Modern wicks are braided, with one strand pulled much tighter than the rest. This causes the wick to curl in on itself, and as such the end of the wick is burned away in the flame of the candle, keeping the wick at a consistent length.
Simple, twisted or spun wicking will not do this, and as such needed to be trimmed, or as it was called then, ‘snuffed’. While this could be done with a knife blade, or even with your fingers, many households that used candles in any number or on a regular basis would have an actual ‘candle snuffer’.
Candle snuffers were a scissors like device that was used to snip off the ends of the wick, and they often had some specific features a regular scissors or snips did not. Many candle snuffers would have an enlarged lip on one of the blade used to catch the cut off pieces of wick so they would not risk dropping a smoldering piece of wick on something that could potentially catch fire. Most candle snuffers were also made somewhat ornately, and would be put in a place of display when not in use. As such, they would also either have a special stand, or even small legs incorporated in to the body of the snuffer so they did not have to be placed directly on a surface, risking soiling nice linens.
|
