Candlesticks & Incense Holders

Candlesticks, Incense Holders & Burners

This collection spans three real material stories: cut-crystal candle holders from EJA International, enamel-finished designer candlesticks from Jay Strongwater, and hand-glazed black terracotta candlesticks, incense holders, and incense burners from Astier de Villatte’s Paris studio. An incense holder and an incense burner aren’t quite the same thing - a holder is typically a small stand or dish an incense stick rests in as it burns, while a burner is a more enclosed vessel built to hold and contain a burning cone - and this collection includes both types.

What’s in the Collection

• Crystal candle holders: the largest group here, from EJA International - faceted and sculptural designs (Ornamental, Mirror, Aura, Disco, Tri Color, Two-Tone) in a range of heights.

• Designer candlesticks: Jay Strongwater’s enamel tulip and orchid pieces, including a double-orchid candelabra - more ornamental and collectible than the crystal line.

• Ceramic candlesticks, incense holders & burners: Astier de Villatte’s hand-molded black terracotta pieces, finished in the atelier’s signature milky-white glaze - including the Hourglass and Colbert candlesticks, the Emilie Star and Lion Gate incense holders, and the Setsuko Collection cat and Pierrot incense burners.

Incense Holder or Incense Burner - Which Do You Need?

The distinction comes down to the incense itself. Stick incense burns from a fixed base, so it needs a holder - a stand, dish, or small hole it can rest in at an angle while ash falls below. Cone or resin incense burns freestanding or needs to sit inside something, so it’s better suited to a burner - a more enclosed vessel that contains it as it burns down. Some pieces, like Astier de Villatte’s Setsuko Collection cat, work more like a burner with hidden storage built in. Because the pieces in this collection aren’t labeled stick vs. cone on their individual product pages, it’s worth checking the specific dimensions or reaching out before buying if you already know which incense format you use.

Choosing a Candlestick for Your Space

Crystal candlesticks read as more formal and reflect light, which makes them a natural fit for a dining table or console where they’ll catch evening light. Ceramic candlesticks, like Astier de Villatte’s hand-glazed pieces, read as more casual and textural, and pair well with everyday use rather than special-occasion styling. Enamel designer pieces, like the Jay Strongwater tulip and orchid candlesticks, are more collectible than functional - they’re often bought as a single statement piece rather than a matched pair.

Caring for Hand-Glazed Ceramic Pieces

Astier de Villatte’s candlesticks, incense holders, and burners are glazed and fired by hand, so slight variation in color and glaze texture from piece to piece is expected - it’s part of the craft, not a flaw, the same as their tableware. Crystal and enamel pieces from EJA International and Jay Strongwater should generally be hand-cleaned rather than machine-washed to protect the finish.

Shop the Collection

Browse the full range below, or pair a candlestick with a scent from Candles + Home Fragrance or Fragrance. For more objects and gifts in the same spirit, see the wider Décor & Gift collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between an incense holder and an incense burner?

An incense holder is typically a small stand or dish that a stick of incense rests in at an angle as it burns, letting ash fall below. An incense burner is a more enclosed vessel built to hold and contain incense that burns freestanding, like a cone or resin.

Do the incense holders in this collection work with sticks, cones, or both?

It varies by piece and isn’t specified on every individual product page, so it’s worth checking the listing or confirming before you buy if you already know which incense format you use.

What is Astier de Villatte’s connection to this collection?

Astier de Villatte is a Paris-based ceramics atelier that hand-molds and glazes its pieces in black terracotta clay with a signature milky-white glaze - several of the candlesticks, incense holders, and incense burners in this collection are theirs.

Are these candlesticks sized for taper candles, pillar candles, or both?

Candle-holder sizing varies by piece and material - crystal and designer candlesticks in this collection are generally built for taper candles, but it’s worth checking the individual product page for the exact fit.

Can crystal and ceramic pieces be mixed in the same display?

Yes - pairing a faceted crystal candlestick with a matte ceramic incense holder is a common way to add contrast to a console or mantel display rather than matching every piece in one material.