New Mexico Mineral Symposium — Abstracts

Presentation illustrates simple blacksmith examples through to three candlesticks known to be from Colorado that can be considered folk art. The presentation includes:

• Typical blacksmith-style candlesticks (good and bad!) with period photographs of them in use (all period photographs are from Colorado).
• The open loop, blacksmith-made style often found in the Leadville area and also made commercially as the "Ideal" manufactured by the Ludlow-Saylor Wire Company of St. Louis. Ludlow-Saylor also made two versions of a "Colorado" candlestick.
• Examples of the one piece candlesticks manufactured by Nathan Varney in Denver and sold under many different names.
• Examples of the patented candlesticks from Colorado patentees. There are a total of 87 miner's candlestick patents that have been identified. Colorado has the most patentees of any state at 24 (the next state is California with 11). One of these candlesticks was produced only as a patent model (located at the Ford Museum). However, 15 other patented candlesticks are known to have been produced. Some are known only as single specimens, but several were produced commercially. Examples of all 15 candlesticks have been located and photographed. Nine are from the author's collection with the remainder from collections in Wyoming and Colorado.
• Three presentation candlesticks known to be from Colorado. All are superb examples of the blacksmith's art and were never intended for use. Background information will be provided for all three candlesticks.