Table of Contents
A candle and candle holder are an inseparable duo. While the candle lights up a room, the candle holder is the artistic counterpart that adds to the aesthetic appeal of a room. Together, they can create a warm, relaxing, friendly, and loving ambiance in any space.
Whereas it’s good to select candle holders that match your home décor, have you ever pondered the materials from which they are made?
Read on to learn the different candle holder materials.
Ceramic Candle Holder Materials
Ceramic candle holders are made from clay. More than being functional, they are decorative elements that can enhance the ambiance of any room. They are formed by passing clay through high temperatures, known as firing.
Clay is a type of soil mainly found near rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams or in their vicinity, which is obtained by digging. Once the right amount of water is mixed with clay to achieve an even consistency, making it soft enough to mold it into any shape, it undergoes a firing process in a kiln.
The firing temperature depends on the type of clay used. Earthenware requires firing temperatures between 1000 to 1140 centigrade, stoneware between 1180 and 1260 centigrade, and between 1280 and 1320 centigrade for porcelain.
Since clay has a lot of small spaces in between, it is highly porous. But, as it goes through the firing process, it becomes less porous. This happens because clay contains glass-forming particles, silica being one of them. At the right temperatures, silica becomes hot enough and melts into a liquid glass, which then fills up the spaces within the clay.
As the clay cools, it goes through a process called vitrification, whereby silica solidifies, filling up the gaps, and making it less porous.
Let’s explore three types of ceramic candle holders:
Earthenware Candle Holders
Earthenware is a candle holder material and is one of the lowest qualities of clay. This is because it does not have enough glass-forming ingredients. Hence, it does not fully go through vitrification, leaving some gaps unfilled, yielding a slightly porous material.
As a result, the final product is brittle, chips and scratches easily, making it less durable. To solve this problem, the clay is glazed. This means it is painted, sprayed, or brushed with a liquid known as glaze, and fired a second time to hold the glaze in place. Glaze comes in either liquid form or as a powder that can be mixed with water.
Glazed earthenware candle holders are known for their bright colors. This is partly due to the colorants in the glazes not being burnt completely because as earlier mentioned earthenware is fired at low temperatures.
Notably, the glazed earthenware candle holders are recognized for their high shine, adding to their visual appeal, hence can be used as accents to improve the ambiance of a room.
Stoneware Candle Holders
Stoneware, another candle holder material, is a type of clay that is fired at a higher temperature than earthenware, making it more durable because it is thicker, stronger, and less porous, resulting in a stone-like appearance.
Candle holders made from this type of clay can be glazed to achieve a shiny and smooth finish. Alternatively, they can remain unglazed for a matt, grainy finish.
Porcelain Candle Holders
Porcelain, a beautiful candle holder material, is a type of clay that is more refined, such as kaolin and quartz, and is fired at much higher temperatures than stoneware and earthenware. The result is a hard, white, and non-porous candle holder, which is heat resistant, making it more durable.
Porcelain candle holders can be glazed to achieve a shiny and smooth finish, or they can remain unglazed for a more natural and earthy appearance They are more expensive than earthenware and stoneware candle holders.
Metal Candle Holder Materials
There are various metals used to make candle holders. Each type determines the quality of the candle holder and subsequently the price. So, let’s explore three types of metal candle holder materials:
Aluminum Candle Holders
Aluminum is a metal that is abundantly found on the earth. It does not come in a pure form and has to be extracted from its ore known as bauxite. It is then refined to produce aluminum, a lustrous candle holder material that is a silvery-white to dull-gray metal.
This metal has a layer of aluminum oxide which makes it resistant to corrosion. However, due to exposure to extreme temperatures, with time it can corrode. This is one of the reasons aluminum candle holders are much cheaper than those made from other candle holder materials like stainless steel and iron.
Usually, the sleek silvery-white finish on aluminum is aesthetically pleasing. But, if you prefer, you can opt for a painted one depending on your home décor. The best paint for aluminum is latex or acrylic paint that’s suitable for painting metals.
Stainless Steel Candle Holders
Unlike aluminum, stainless steel is not a material that occurs naturally. It is produced by mixing iron with copper, nickel, manganese, and sometimes chromium oxide. The combination of all these elements results in its outstanding property of corrosion resistance.
In contrast to aluminum, which is light and malleable, stainless steel is stronger, heavier, and more durable. It has lower deformability, and the extraction process takes longer. Due to these factors, it is more expensive than aluminum.
It is silverish and relatively shiny, though it can be colored to increase its aesthetic appeal. Nevertheless, stainless steel candle holders without paint can elevate your home décor, adding elegance to your space that complements both modern and classic interiors.
Iron Candle Holders
Iron, which is the fourth most abundant metal on earth, is an excellent candle-holder material that is extracted from iron ore.
Iron is heavier and more corrosion-resistant than steel, making it your best choice for durable candle holders. However, due to its properties, it is more expensive than steel.
Iron candle holders that are not painted match best with a background decor that is warm white, greenish, or earthy. You may paint it to elevate the ambiance of your home decor.
Brass Candle Holders
Brass is a combination of copper and brass, whose proportions depend on the application and use, though the most basic combination of brass is 67% copper and 33% zinc.
It’s an excellent candle holder material as it’s easy to craft into shape and is highly resistant to corrosion. Moreover, it can withstand extreme temperatures.
With a yellowish or dull gold color, brass candle holders match well with wooden or glass furniture with a neutral background.
Glass Candle Holder Material
Glass is made from natural materials such as sand, soda ash, and limestone that are melted at high temperatures to form the material glass.
Glass is used to make beautiful and elegant glass candle holders that are clear or opaque decorative accents that complement any deco style.
However, just like ceramic, the glass candle holder material is extremely fragile and their prices depend on the size and thickness of the glass.
Wood Candle Holder Material
Candle holders made out of wood, effortlessly bring a feel of nature into your home’s interior. However, due to their lightweight nature compared to ceramic, metal, or glass materials, it is crucial to ensure the stability of the wooden holder’s base to prevent it from tipping over.
It is also important to decide where in your home you will place the wooden candle holder, as it can catch fire easily. You cannot leave it unattended. Wait until you are done using it, then puff out the flame.
Also, wood needs extra care since it can easily be affected by extreme weather conditions.
For example, it may not be a good idea to place your candle holder in the attic as too much moisture can cause it to rot. Similarly, placing it near a window that brings in too much sunlight can cause it to crack and flake.
Wooden candle holders can be painted to decorate them, increasing the appeal of your space.
Plastic Candle Holder Material
Plastic comes from natural materials such as natural gas, oil, or plants. It is a candle holder material lighter than glass and highly heat-resistant.
Depending on the type of plastic used, candle holders can come in clear, colored, textured, or decorated pieces.
Wrap Up
Different candle holder materials offer varied possibilities to improve your living space. Each is a unique option, from the allure of metal to the delicacy of ceramic, the transparency of glass, the organic warmth of wood, or the versatility of plastic. You can use either or blend them to create an ambiance that mirrors your style.
You can read more about home decor that mirrors your style by clicking here: Home Decor That Fits Your Personality