Maker's mark on brutalist modern candle stick

No perfect category for this --not silver, pottery, glass or porcelain, so chose "Art".

Front is engraved with 2 initials (K&M) and also a specific date (80's) on reverse. Possibly was a wedding gift?

I was attracted to the form which is sort of "brutalist" looking to my eye. This has a maker's stamp on the base. Not sure which photo has the correct orientation. If anyone recognizes the maker, would love to know. Thanks for taking a look!

 

I don't know the mark, but the style is certainly Pentti Sarpaneva

 

I guess the TH is Turun Hopea

 

Hi Terry,
Well done. The dang fancy monogram ruins it for me. A plain monogram would have better.
greg

 

Lucille.b, I want to thank you for taking two photos of the "mark" (one from the north and one from the south, so to speak).

 

Terry, amazing! Well done! Thank you.

Someone set this back in a new bin at the thrift yesterday, changed mind or something. It was covered with wax, maybe that's why, but only 49 cents.

So one thing has already come up from this post. I am positive I sold a Pentti Sarpaneva pendant necklace as an "unknown" piece about a year ago. It had no marks at all. I listed it on Ebay as "brutalist, possibly a studio piece". After searching Pentti Sarpaneva to check this candle holder I saw many variations, similar of my sold necklace. I think it sold for $35, would have done a lot better with the Pentti Sarpaneva name oh well, live and learn! When I saw this candle holder I thought, "Oh just like that necklace."

Back to the candle holder. I'm still so impressed we got the maker, but now how to clean the excess wax? The candle sits down in the body, and it has melted all over the top and the delicate open work on the side, a real mess. What is the best way to clean this?


PS. Yourturn --yes maker's mark both ways. I was thinking 2nd was it, but you never know.

 

Here's a dead ringer, slightly different base stamp for whatever reason. Not huge $ sold, and I'm guessing the engraved initials and date on mine are going to be a negative, but I still really like the piece and would like to work on that wax. Can I just dip it in very hot water or would that harm the finish in some way? The auction is calling it "plated brass".

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gorgeous-go...798?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item486f88e10e

 

Hot water is best

A single is worth much less than half of a pair

 

Boiling water?

 

Doesn't need to be quite boiling, just enough to liquify the wax

I've been able to get a lot off just running under full hot tap water

Would depend on how high you have your water heater set

Probably not good in the drain pipes though

Better to use a tall tin can that can have the water level higher than the piece and heat it on the stove

Let the floated wax solidify before removing from the water

 

Thank you. Great idea with the tin can, will let the wax solidify before removing.

 

Hi,
I freeze my metal ware and the wax just breaks off.
greg

 

The weather in Finland can be pretty brutal so maybe the art reflects that. Minimalist would be a better term. With all this detail, I wouldn't really call it that, though. It's a lot more ornate than a lot of things I've seen from there.

 

Brutalism is a design genre...... Began in architecture and was adapted for interior design afterwards. Most famous design proponent was Paul Evans. The design is alive and well today .......

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324108204579024953230681722

 

Can't see it without logging in, but I'll look it up.

This is the great thing about the forum. I learn something new all the time

 

As a short follow-up decided to freeze it, to get the bits off and then heat it in hot water to finish the job.

I'm only on stage 1 because I forgot I put it in the freezer, so it has been sitting there for three days. Just rescued it. The wax did pop off, but this is going to need the heat treatment, too. A candle is really stuck down in there, melted into all the little crevices. I think I'm going to need to heat it to get the main piece out and then try to dissolve the rest.

Hoping to get something I can use for a holiday party next week!

Thanks for the thoughts/help on this.