Pair of candle holders with mercury-filled double-walled glass and cold painted with white enamel floral decoration. Mercury glass was first patented in 1849 in England, where it was often referred to as “poor man’s silver”.
I have never seen another example of mercury glass with an inventive repair. Someone did a fine repair job outfitting these broken candle holders, each measuring 6-3/4″ high, with silver painted wood bases.
The pair of bases are nicely painted, even on the bottoms.
Intact bases are shown below on this similar pair of 19th century French candlesticks.
Photo courtesy of Foret
did you know who repaired them? if they can be repaired? i have a mercury candle holder that was my great grandmothers that unfortunately just cracked a bit on the top – doesn’t seem to have any liquid coming out of it. Small piece of glass that come off was half the size of my pinky toe nail and the crack itself is in a ushape on the top about a third the size of a post it note.