Candlesticks used in metal mining first appeared in California in 1860 and were common throughout the West. These devices enabled miners to place lit candles near their work area to illuminate the space.
A typical mining candlestick measured ¼ inch in diameter and 12 inches long. It was designed to be hammered into a wooden beam or hung by the hook on rocks. Blacksmiths or miners handcrafted some, while others were mass-produced.
This particular piece, which is on loan to the Patagonia Museum as part of the George Proctor collection, appears to be handmade.Â