Taperstick - Wrought iron - Cellar rat brutalist

Wine thief

The Cave Rat is a handcrafted candle holder, entirely handmade.
It is both functional and very decorative.

Origin and Function

This object was a working utensil used in all Burgundy cellars. Its origin dates back to around the year 1000; the monks of the very famous Cluny Abbey used it: we can see an authentic one at the OCHIER museum in Cluny.
The cellar rat had a dual function: first, to illuminate the cellar, second, the color of the flame indicated that there were gas releases, showing that the wine was undergoing a chemical transformation.
This object had a very carefully designed and rational shape: its flat base allowed for immediate and stable placement.
Its handle (the rat's tail) provided an easy and secure grip; its shape allowed it to be hung on a nail and, more commonly, on the rim of oak barrels. The spiral allowed for the storage of candle remnants; the small pusher, rotating within this spiral, raised the candle ends as they burned down.
Perhaps this is what we used to call, "penny-pinching!"

dimensions: 21cm x 17cm x 15cm; weight = 2kg

Perfect condition, see photos