I have several items in silver that many folks would categorize as unnecessary. I would wholeheartedly agree with them. But this isn’t a post on one of life’s necessities, period. If that bothers you, or if you are of the same ilk as Mylai Dimaculangan, my by now infamous fishpan detractor, or if you felt close to regurgitating your dinner reading my post on antique sterling silver grape scissors, then do not read the rest of this post. Fair warning was given. This post is about a silver and wood candle snuffer that usually emerges from our cabinets around the Christmas holidays. With a conical head made of sterling silver, it elegantly suffocates the flames of your tapered candles at the end of a festive meal. I know, roll your eyes all you want, but you don’t really need earrings nor a cellphone other than the PHP2,000 minimalist version, and I would wager that most of you probably have both. This is a rather special silver table doodad for me as the length of the stick is an unusually long at 16 inches…

Designed for a church (or castles, country estates) where the candelabras tend to be quite majestic and large, the lengthy stick allows the priests, or their assistants to easily reach put out the many candles needed to illuminate the altars (or vast dining halls and humongous Flemish tapestries in private homes). This particular piece was part of an order made by some priests but who at the last minute either cancelled their order or reduced the number of pieces in their order. I was thrilled to acquire this unique piece, despite its being used only 3-4 times a year. Had I purchased it at a silversmith in London (one of the best places to get unnecessary silver doodads) I would have paid a princely sum. Sorry, I am not at liberty to divulge the manufacturer. Beautifully detailed, carefully balanced, it is like holding a magic wand of sorts and I take a bizarre pleasure in using it when a nice dinner has come to an end (so does the Kid, by the way). Practically speaking, a candle snuffer allows you to easily reach the candles without leaning over the table or getting up on a chair even. It also prevents melted wax from being sprayed all over your precious tablecloth as is often the case when you blow it with your own lung power. Better yet, if you have guests who are laway (saliva) abundant, you avoid a wet spray if you are at the opposite end of the blower’s trajectory… that alone is reason enough for me to justify this dining luxury…

Oh and here is a Mrs. Marketman table tip. Once you have set your table and it is perfect, light your candles and let them “catch” for a minute or two. Then put them out (with your snuffer if you have one) and later when the dinner proper starts, you will have a much easier time lighting your candles…

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