After Christmas, I went looking around on ebay for wood and iron candle sconces.
I found a pair of these for less than $20. They are plentiful on ebay in all price ranges. I think they're from the late 1980s, but not sure.
Here is a recent listing from ebay, and this one has the original glass votive holders.
In any case, it needed a makeover.
I had in mind something similar to these French Pinot sconces.
I started by spraying them with gray primer. I thought I had a photo of that stage, but I must have deleted it. I then brushed on a lighter gray craft paint, let it dry, then sanded the high spots. I didn't like the color, nor did I enjoy trying to hold the sconce with one hand and brush paint into all the crevices, so I spray painted flat white over the whole thing, then sanded again after it dried.
I then, rubbed on a coat of dark finishing wax and rubbed it off. I was pretty happy with the finish, then I realized something was missing.
I have seen French candle sconces with wood beads, so I searched everywhere for long wood beads. I looked online and at Michaels in the jewelry and wood departments, but could not find what I wanted. I finally went to the craft department at Walmart and found a couple of options to choose from.
I thought these beads might work, but they were not really long enough for the look I wanted.
I then saw these wood caps and thought I might be able to make them work.
There were four of each size, so I decided to glue them together, since I needed four.
After applying the same paint treatment I did to the sconces, I used an awl to make a hole, then dipped a shortened wire ornament hanger into the glue then inserted it into the hole.
And...voilà, French candle sconces!
I love how they turned out! I did plan on switching out the candle cups for smaller brass ones, but I thought that would just be overkill and more work than I really wanted to do.
I'm still not sure where I'm going to put them, since I have two, but for now, one is here on the old door in the music "room."
Not bad for less than $20:-)
I'll be joining:
Looks fabulous. Great job. The beads are the perfect addition. :) Julie
ReplyDeleteThank you Julie!
DeleteYou wouldn't by looking at it that had been from the 80's, great job on it and I love the finish!
ReplyDeleteI know..paint can do amazing things! Thank you:-)
DeleteWow!!!...they are stunning!...Now there is going to be a run on eBay for old 80's sconces!...so, so beautiful and such a great idea Anita!..love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you Shirley!! There are sure plenty of them out there too!
Deletethese look like the real things, love the makeover!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Debra! The real ones are ridiculously expensive...or at least the ones I have seen online.
DeleteGreat transformation! Amazing for $20!
ReplyDeleteEilis@MyHeartLivesHere
No kidding! I love a bargain! Thanks for stopping by:-)
DeleteLOVE THEM!! Great makeover!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Martina!
DeleteLove this project! What a great look you gave those candle sconces. I never would've guessed that they looked the way they did when you first got them. Thanks for the inspiration and the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Kelly! They were pretty dated, for sure:-)
DeleteFabulous! They really look like the real deal! Love them!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pinky...and at a fraction of the cost!
DeleteIt looks fantastic! I love how you've transformed it into something that you will now love.
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin! I do love them this way:-)
DeleteWhat a great job on those sconces, Anita! They really are lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Lynn!!
DeleteGreat project and I love the results.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Sherry!
DeleteThose look great, Anita. How smart are you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kim, and thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWOW!!! You nailed the look! Now I am going to search for 80's candle holders. Been keeping my eye on the real thing, and gasping at the price...
ReplyDeleteThanks!!!
EBay here I come.
I know Gee...there were several out there too. Look for "homco wood and iron candle sconce" or "Wood and iron candle sconce," and they should come up. Thanks so much!!
DeleteI found one just like this in an antique shop/flea market for $5.00. I did mine in black.
ReplyDeleteI love how you transformed those dated candle sconces and made them look fabulously french.
ReplyDelete