The wick trimmer on original stand with faceted octagonal base. Elegantly designed in brass with holes in either side of the stand to allow the wick trimmer to sit both ways.

Upright candle snuffers were introduced during the Restoration and became popular in English households in the mid-18th century. They consisted of scissors to trim the candle wick, with an attached receptacle to catch it and extinguish what was a highly flammable material. Fine sets such as these also came equipped with attractive stands. Snuffers made or silver, brass or pewter were favoured in wealthy homes, with surviving brass examples now a rarity.

Snuff referred to the burnt portion of a candle’s wick and snuffing; the act of removing the surplus wick was required at regular intervals depending on the quality of the candle. Higher quality candles burnt unaided for longer, whereas cheaper candles required near constant snuffing. A candle of middling quality would need to be snuffed around 40 times an hour. Candle snuffers, therefore, were an essential item in any well managed household.

Snuffers minimised the frequent disruption caused by unreliable lighting and helped to protect furnishings from wax splatters and soot stains. They were also vital for safety, as an untrimmed wick could pose a major fire risk in the home.
Whilst innately functional objects, sets such as these were also designed to be attractive items, that would complement any fashionable interior and were often produced alongside candle sticks.