There is something ephemeral about a lit candle – the binary of zero to one is struck, the original luminary. The glow of a flame brings with it a golden aura, warming the room and the soul. The Reflet Candle Holder by Daniel Rybakken for Eldvarm, that intimacy is not only preserved, but elevated into a sculptural ritual grounded in Scandinavian light traditions.
Inspired by the traditional ‘adventsljusstake’ – the four-candle holder lit progressively during Advent in many Swedish homes – the collection reinterprets this familiar Scandinavian light ritual through two linear compositions: Reflet II and Reflet IV. For Rybakken, who grew up in Norway where candlelight glowed steadily in winter windows, the emotional depth of illumination was a natural starting point. Here, candlelight is not reserved for special occasions alone, but woven into everyday life.
Crafted of hand-cast solid brass, Rybakken’s grasp of reductive form is clear. The base of each piece is sandcast, resulting in a rough, tactile surface that retains the imprint of the casting process, while long, slender polished cylinders rise above in clean vertical lines. The contrast of textures – rough and polished, weight and lift – creates a quiet duality that feels both grounded and refined. Each base is hand-poured and finished in small batches, rendering every piece subtly unique, and left uncoated so the brass can either be polished to maintain its gleam or allowed to develop a natural patina over time.
These cylinders, each proportioned so that their diameter closely mirrors that of the candle itself, visually elongate the flame so it reads as a natural extension of the form. By lifting the light source higher above the surface, the design allows the flame to stand apart from the visual clutter of everyday objects, giving it clarity and presence.
The polished brass tubes are fully reversible and watertight, transforming the candleholder into a slender vase for a single stem or small arrangement. In this way, the piece moves fluidly between seasons – candlelight in winter, blooms in spring – giving a single branch the same composure as a flame. Easily removed for cleaning or refilling, the cylinders reinforce the object’s thoughtful versatility.
Affixed within a solid base that carries a distinct visual weight, the composition feels stable and intentional. And yet, that weight is lifted by the interplay of textures: the satin-polished cylinders catching and reflecting ambient light, becoming active participants in the room’s atmosphere. Reflet is beholden to the light in the space, responding subtly to its surroundings.
Creating different levels brings a distinct visual language, reserved in form yet retaining a certain generosity of proportion. Reflet II features two candles in an intimate arrangement; Reflet IV extends to four, echoing its Advent origins while offering a sculptural centrepiece year-round. Bold in their simplicity, the pieces embody what Eldvarm describes as a kind of Scandinavian maximalism – quiet, but expressive.
At the end of a good night, the binary returns to zero – a slim trail of smoke is all that’s left, a necessary cooling of a powerful warmth. With Reflet, Rybakken offers a heightened and modern take on an age-old ritual, lifting flame – or flower – above the everyday, and creating space for reflection long after the light has dimmed.
To learn more about the Reflet Candleholder by Daniel Rybakken for Eldvarm, visit eldvarm.com.
Photography courtesy of Eldvarm.
