15 of the best simple, sculptural candleholders & candlesticks

Autumn has officially arrived, and that means candle season is here! To be honest I light candles year-round, but as the nights draw in and the days get darker, they become even more important. Nothing beats the cosy, inviting glow of candlelight, and I tend to have them dotted around the living room, the dining table, the bedroom, the bathroom and even my little home office. As a result I’ve developed quite a collection of minimalist candleholders and candlesticks over the years, so I thought it was time I rounded up some of my favourites.

These aren’t just functional items; they’re beautiful, sculptural pieces that look just as good when not in use as they do when adorned with flickering candles. Some are design classics created more than 50 (and in one case 80!) years ago; others are more recent but no less elegant and timeless. And as always, there are options to suit all budgets and room sizes.

1. Menu bronzed-brass ‘Balance’ candleholder, £85, Opumo
2. By Lassen ‘Kubus 4’ candleholder (available in black, white, nickel, brass and burnished copper), £126-£164 depending on the finish chosen, Connox
3. ‘Aura’ solid brass and etched-steel candleholder, £36, Alice Ives
4. ‘Cirque’ candleholders, £69 for the larger brass version and £26 for the smaller black version, Rose & Grey
5. Metal candlestick (available in black, white, grey, ‘sand’, ‘dusty red’, ‘dark green’, brass and stainless steel), €32.31-€37 depending on the size and colour chosen, Cooee Design
6. ‘O’ hand-cast marble-plaster candleholder (available in ‘soot black’, ‘ash white’ and ‘charcoal grey’), £55, Shy Design Studio
7. Skultuna ‘Lily’ candleholder, £97 for a brass version and £131 for a silver-plated version, Skandium
8. ‘Dash’ powder-coated steel candleholder, €47, Kristina Dam 
9. ‘Ripply’ stainless-steel candleholder, €85, New Works
10. ‘Suki’ set of two black geometric candleholders, £29, MADE.com [AD – affiliate link]
11. ‘Balance’ candleholder (available in black, brass, chrome, ‘deep blue’, ‘macaroon’ and ‘dark aubergine’), €35, Ferm Living
12. Anderssen & Voll cast-iron ‘Ildhane’ candleholder, £54, SCP
13. ‘Heima’ cast-iron candleholder, £50, Normann Copenhagen
14. ‘Candlelight’ candleholder (available in black, brass, copper and steel), €19.95, Moebe
15. ‘Swoop’ candleholder (available in black and brass), price tbc, Cooee Design

And here’s a closer look at some of my favourites…

The ‘Kubus’ candleholder from By Lassen

A true icon of Danish design, the ‘Kubus’ candleholder was first created in 1962 by architect Mogens Lassen. The original – an eight-candle version now known as the ‘Kubus 8’ – was the result of his interest in proportion and geometry, and pairs the angles of a perfect cube with cylindrical tubes. For decades it was reserved solely for close family and friends but thankfully it’s now available to all, along with smaller ‘Kubus 4’, ‘Kubus 2’ and ‘Kubus 1’ versions in a variety of colours and materials. It has a particularly special place in my heart as it was the first design classic which I ever treated myself to, and you can read more about its history here.

The ‘Ripply’ candleholder from New Works

Created by Argentinian designer Christian Mohaded for Danish brand New Works, the ‘Ripply’ candleholder was inspired by ripples dancing across the surface of a glassy lake. It consists of two sheets of undulating mirror-polished steel and blends a hard, industrial material with a soft, ephemeral expression. Interestingly, it was designed so that its function only becomes apparent once candles are inserted into the voids between the sheets, and it makes an eye-catching, artistic object even when empty.

The ‘Dash’ candleholder by Kristina Dam

‘Dash‘ is one of several candleholders created by Copenhagen-based Kristina Dam, whose designs are known for their sculptural, minimalist qualities. Inspired by the Bauhaus movement, it’s a decorative piece in its own right and looks different from every angle. I particularly love the striking geometric lines and cut-out silhouette, which cast beautiful shadows over the wall behind when the candle is lit. What’s more, it’s stable enough to hold very tall candles as well as standard-height ones.

The ‘Lily’ candleholder from Skultuna

The ‘Lily’ candleholder was the work of Malmö-born sculptor Ivar Ålenius Björk (1905-1978), whose public statues can be found in towns all over Sweden. It formed part of a series of brass candlesticks created in 1939 for manufacturer Ystad-Metall and soon became a classic thanks to its elegant unfurling form, but it was discontinued when the company closed down in 1969. In agreement with Björk’s relatives, Swedish brand Skultuna has now put it and a silver-plated version back into production, and the ‘Lily’ can grace homes once again.

The ‘Balance’ candleholder from Menu

A modern interpretation of the traditional candlesticks carried in centuries gone by, ‘Balance’ was designed by Frederik Alexander Werner of long-term Menu collaborators Norm Architects. He deconstructed the classic elements of a candlestick, creating a minimalist yet striking piece consisting of a simple tube and a circular handle. Brass was chosen as the material for its warmth, with the bronzed surface adding a contemporary touch while the polished edges give a subtle nod to the past.

Shy Design Studio image by Abi Dare; all other photography via the respective brands above