Early Hand-Carved Wood Gold Gilt Pricket Stick

Early Carved Wood Gold Gilt Pricket Stick

This is a very old piece and has the patina that shows it. It was acquired in San Diego and likely came out of an old Catholic mission either in California or Central America. It is a European piece, likely Italian 18th-19th Century. Pricket sticks were used before electricity to illuminate a chapel or sanctuary in a church. They usually were made and used in pairs. Originally, it had an iron spike protruding from the hole on top on which to hold a large candle. It is hand-carved from wood and covered with gold gilt paint. There is a round molten-caste metal weight, which appears to be painted lead, screwed into the bottom to add ballast to the stick for stability. The screws are clearly of a later date, and it is unclear whether this metal weight is original or added at a later date. Considering it's age, it is in pretty good condition. Most of the gold gilt is in tact, the feet have some chips of wood broken off along the grain of the wood which is hardly noticeable. If viewed with a loop or magnifying glass, one can see the old crusty patina that can only come with age. The paint is cracked and chipped off in some places, and there is some old wax buildup on the base. The stick is 29 1/2 inches or 75 cm high.

Item #da12
$695

	Early Wooden Carved Gold Gilt Pricket Stick






	Early Carved Wood Gold Gilt Pricket Stick This is a very old piece and has the patina that shows it. It was acquired in San Diego and likely came out of an old Catholic mission either in California or Central America. It is a European piece, likely Italian 18th-19th Century. Pricket sticks were used before electricity to illuminate a chapel or sanctuary in a church. They usually were made and used in pairs. Originally, it had an iron spike protruding from the hole on top on which to hold a large candle. It is hand-carved from wood and covered with gold gilt paint. There is a round molten-caste metal weight, which appears to be painted lead, screwed into the bottom to add ballast to the stick for stability. The screws are clearly of a later date, and it is unclear whether this metal weight is original or added at a later date. Considering it's age, it is in pretty good condition. Most of the gold gilt is in tact, the feet have some chips of wood broken off along the grain of the wood which is hardly noticeable. If viewed with a loop or magnifying glass, one can see the old crusty patina that can only come with age. The paint is cracked and chipped off in some places, and there is some old wax buildup on the base. The stick is 29 1/2 inches or 75 cm high. Item #da12 $695