Rise and Fall of a Candle - Clear
For a pillar candle of 5/8" diameter (or less) by 6" tall (or more).
Mouth-blown in borosilicate in Slovenia, without the use of moulds in batches of 20.
Height 32.5cm (larger than you think)
Width 18.2cm
Base diameter 12.9cm
Weight 0.35 kg
German Design Award Winner 2021
Ribbon-tied wooden gift box with protective wood shavings
Twisted brush with tip
7 × 6" long church candles
4 × lighting tapers
The timepiece allows the operator to determine when the flame will be extinguished by adjusting the amount of water poured into the holder. As the candle gets shorter its bottom end rises upwards to a point where a constraint is no longer effective, and the candle falls over onto its side, extinguishing itself in the water. The Bauhaus tells us that ‘less is more’. Here, for more burn time, add less water.
Named after its maximum approximate burn time of 231 minutes (which is three hours and fifty one minutes), the ≲ 231 MIN is formed from the highest-quality Italian borosilicate glass. It is individually mouth-blown and formed by hand on a lathe by a highly skilled craftsman using the same processes that create chemistry apparatus.
Candle waste is minimised and there is a reduced fire risk as a result of the self-extinguishing feature of the innovation.
Its nature lends itself well to dinner parties. Should a guest remain at an event longer than is desirable, a self-extinguishing candle may provide a tactful clue that the event is over.
Some say that the dancing flame is the tail of a goldfish inside its bowl.
Please see engraving options here.
"An impressively simple, physical principle translated into a beautiful, decorative object."
Jury statement - German Design Award 2021
Studio photographs by John R Ward.
Interior photographs by Beth Davis, styling by Studio Gabrielle.
CRAFT
The candleholder is made from borosilicate glass, a material commonly used for scientific laboratory equipment because of its exceptional resistance to thermal shock. Sometimes referred to as 'hard glass', borosilicate is prized for its clarity, strength and precision. The ≲ 231 MIN candleholder is free blown on a lathe by a lamp worker, using the same processes used to blow chemistry apparatus.
Borosilicate glass is known for having very low coefficients of thermal expansion (≈3 × 10−6 K−1 at 20 °C), making it more resistant to thermal shock than other glass. Such glass is subjected to less thermal stress and can withstand temperature differentials without fracturing of about 165 °C (329 °F). Borosilicate has a higher melting point (approximately 1650 degrees Celsius) than 'soft glass'.
More about making here.
LIGHTING
Fill the holder with water to above the point where the stem meets the bowl. Like this, it is set for the maximum burn time of 231 minutes. For a shorter burn time, add more water. (More water raises the candle up within the glass, so it has a head start and will release itself earlier.) One inch of water height above the stem reduces one inch of candle below the stem. Each inch of candle length below the part where the stem meets the bowl will give approximately 38.5 minutes of illumination. Please refer to the graph which gives the burn duration for differing water quantities. Insert the bottom end of the candle into the narrow part of the glass and let the candle sink. Please light the candle with a taper (included).
Care
We recommend using soft water to prevent limescale buildup inside your candleholder. Ideally empty the water after use to avoid scale marks. Should these appear, they may be removed with vinegar. Otherwise, use warm water with washing up liquid. The brush (included) will reach inside the neck, if required. Hot water may be used to remove wax from glass holders. Towel dry, and allow any remaining water in the neck to drain. Find more details about cleaning glass here.
CANDLES & TAPERS
The perfect candle for the 231 MIN is the standard 6" tall (or more) and 5/8" diameter (or less) church candle (i.e. pillar style). (This is around 15cm tall and 1.6cm diameter.)
We recommend candles from Charles Farris (also available from us), Clive Adie Church Supplies, The Pilgrim Shop, F.M. Church Supplies, Kevin Mayhew. A 9" candle may be used if a burn time of longer than 3 hours and fifty one minutes is required.
We suggest the use of a taper makes lighting easier, particularly when relighting shorter lengths of candle. Tapers are also available from Charles Farris, Clive Adie Church Supplies, The Pilgrim Shop or for your convenience here.
Design registrations
Registered Community Design Application Number: 008373914-0001
UK Patent Application Number: 2011755.2
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