ANTIQUE COUNTRY STANDS - Candlestands

Commonly known as candlestands today, small tables supported by a pedestal, or pillar - and usually a tripod base-originally were used for many purposes, including serving tea, writing letters, and playing games. 

Such stands were made continually from the 17th century until the mid -19th century and display the characteristics of the various popular furniture styles. The turned legs of the William and Mary period, for example, evolved into the cabriole legs of the Queen Anne and Chippendale periods, and eventually became the simple tapered legs of the Federal period. 

Although stands were meant to be practical and were certainly not the most important pieces of furniture in a house, care was often lavished on their design. 

The shape and decoration of the tops also add interest to these small stands. Circular and square tops are the most common, but oval, octagonal, and rectangular forms were also made. 

Tilt-top stands, which had flip tops and could easily be placed out of the way in a comer, were a very popular type. Usually the top could simply I flip up and down, but on fancy examples, the pedestal passed through a "birdcage," or columned block, that allowed the top to pivot as well as tilt.