Candle mold
New York
1810-1816
Maker
Abraham Brower (dates unknown)
Measurements
18-1/2 in x 23-5/8 in x 6 in
Materials
White pine (end boards), hard pine (shelves), walnut (top strips), white metal alloy (candle molds)
Credit Line
Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp
Accession Number
1959.3830
Inscription
“A.BROWER. NEWYORK” in relief is cast into each candle mold.
Condition Notes
One end board is bleached and water stained.
Provenance
Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp. An accession file of 1959 states that this candle mold was owned by Mrs. W. Edward Wright. She sold it to H.R. Lindsey, who in turn sold it to Sharp. It had a tradition of ownership in Odessa.
Comments
The large and heavy candle mold is made of eighteen cast-alloy candle molds, each about 11 inches long, set into a wood frame. The frame has two end boards joined by a lower shelf half-dovetailed in place and an upper shelf made into a tray-like surface by the addition of walnut slats. The tops of the molds sit on flanges into this top board, creating a work surface. The individual molds are in rows of six, staggered to facilitate cooling of the candles. Ovoid holes in each end board provide handholds.
Each candle mold has the name A. Brower cast into it. Although there were many men by that name in New York, this individual may have been Abraham Brower, who was listed as a brass-founder in New York City directories between 1810 and 1816.
Few candle molds of this size are known. It likely was made for an individual who wished to sell candles to the public in an urban environment. Smaller candle molds of two to six candles were common and likely served the needs of most large households.
Bibliography
Nancy Goyne Evans, “Candlemold in Frame,” The Pewter Collectors Club of America Bulletin no. 64, vol. 6, no. 5 (August 1971), p. 121, fig. 1.
