Art At Work Simple To Ornate, Retired Utilitarian Artifacts Become Valued For Their Artistic Merit
Tools and art might seem an unlikely combination, but in fact, some of the most wonderful art and antique artifacts which abound in this region are tools of the industries that made this part of the country come alive: ranching, railroading and mining. Many of the tools of these trades, such as knives, guns and saddles, are no longer objects of utility but highly collected art and antique valuables. Perhaps most surprising is a category of tool artifacts springing from the least glamorous industry of all - mining.
The one piece that each miner owned for his livelihood, the piece that he would purchase with his own hard-earned wages, was the candlestick. The candlestick as a tool became obsolete in the early 1900s due to the development of the carbide lamp, but at the demise of its production, the candlestick came to symbolize a historical era. In addition, the ingenuity of design and craftsmanship of its many forms qualifies the best candlestick examples as art.
Nearly 90 patents for candlestick styles were granted, although many of these patents were never actually made. Many, once made, were too expensive for the typical miner to afford. Even the crudest, however, were often made with a signature style that enhanced their uniqueness.
Nothing illustrates this fact better than the collection of miner’s candlesticks belonging to area collector Scott Brady, who has made his hunt for mining memorabilia a lifetime passion. The walls of his house are literally lined with fascinating relics from the regional origins of the industry, and his assemblage illustrates the numerous types of candlesticks made between 1883 and 1915.
Brady’s collection includes the simplest type of candlesticks, which were cleverly forged out of a single piece of iron, as well as elaborate presentation pieces that were probably never used and only owned by mining VIP’s and executives. Shapes, sizes and decoration vary completely, ranging from totally plain, boot-shaped thumb levers, pistol-shaped handles and carved or inlaid ornament. The mechanics vary as much as the functions of a Swiss Army knife, as can be seen in an example of a locally patented candlestick. This progressive Spokane production contained advanced features such as a holder that could accommodate candles of different widths, and folding mechanics to allow for simple pocket transport.
The candlestick was as essential to the miner in its usefulness as the gun to the cowboy, or the knife to the fur trader. More than a source of light, the candlestick provided protection from many of the hazards of the trade. The candle’s flame could indicate dwindling sources of oxygen, the sharp spike for wall mounting ended more than one man’s life in fights, and those called “high-grades” had wide handles by which the miners could line the handle in wax and smuggle gold out for their own use (the mines eventually caught on to this trick, and disallowed the high-grades).
Many of the candlesticks were produced by blacksmiths that worked near or for the mines, and many were machine produced and marketed by large companies. This might explain the vast range of designs and forms, or possibly, the allure of gold and precious metals sparked the imagination of the patent designers into hoping for a fortune from inventing that one perfect candlestick. Despite the variety, underlying every design was the effort to minimize the rigors of an extremely rigorous trade. Also underlying many of the designs was a compelling creative force, and the notched initials in even the crudest candlestick show that when able, the miner as well as the candlestick maker strived to show their individuality in their livelihood.