Antique Crystal Glass Dolphin Candlestick

One of my favorite subjects – dolphins, dolphins and more dolphins. Here is a wonderful clear glass single dolphin candlestick dating from the 19th century. I have a funny feeling that is could have possible been made at Boston & Sandwich Glass Co in Sandwich, Mass. The candlestick is elegant. It is clear, clear colorless crystal. You can tell that is was blown in a model. It has the smashed wafer connecting the candle cup to the dolphin’s tail. The reason I believe this is an early one is first of all because of the color and secondly because the weigh it was blown into the mold, third because of the smashed wafer and lastly because of two heat fractures in the annealing of the dolphins tail fin.

The candlestick has lovely fluid movement. It has the petal top and underneath a few of the petals it is a bit rough and there is a chip on the top section of the base right under the dolphin head. It is a chip the size of a little fingernail – there is no way it would show up in the photographs. There are several straw marks in the base in the glass from blowing it into the mold. All of the these what seem to be minor infractions almost give you goose bumps because you know these are all signs of antiquity – it would make a splendid addition to the candlestick collection.