One may well wonder why candles are so popular all over the world. In fact they have never been as popular. They are found almost everywhere: In hotels, restaurants, homes, shops, spas, beauty parlors, gardens and are often found floating on pools. We live in an era of high tech and yet people are increasingly happy to buy an ancient object whose elusive time span echoes our limited life.
Lighting candles is a very sensual, almost spiritual activity and this ephemeral object, par excellence, creates a unique atmosphere. Its flickering flame unleashes hidden emotions and its shimmering glow touches the heart. And for Nesma El-Messiry: “Candles are an essential part of the furnishing of a room. I have placed candles all over my house, on shelves, tables or even lying on the floor. A candle helps create a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere.” She also feels that candlelight brings energy to a home; it is warming, protecting and nurturing.
Nesma’s love for candles has led her to open a shop with a friend, Entessar El-Tawila, in Maadi, a leafy suburb of Cairo. This cult shop, Art and Soul, offers more than candles. Its creative owners combine handmade candles and wooden crafts into exclusive pieces of furniture or even “artrageous sculptures” which become original candle holders.
They both love wood which they see as a living, breathing entity with a myriad of colors, scents and textures. They use twigs, branches as well as tree trunks and transform them into coffee tables, sideboards, pillars, bowls as well as slender or massive candleholders carved with ancient African tribal language. “All the pieces we create are unique and they are basically all made for one purpose: To hold candles,” explains Nesma. But these creative pieces go beyond trends, it’s all about life experiences. Nesma and Entissar are not just interested in creating original pieces; they are also trying to integrate their designs into a way of living. They both think that it’s better to have experiences than to consume. They are joining a growing number of people around the world who are no longer interested in just consuming for its own sake.
Nesma admits that she is particularly drawn to ancient scripts and African art: “I am African after all. African art is deep. It touches your soul.” Moreover, the idea behind the African style is simplicity in a world increasingly about excess. Nesma also carves some of her pieces with Mexican designs and Chinese letters. On one of her candle holders, she has engraved three Chinese characters which mean: Love, happiness and dream. And one of her most original candle holders is a scale. Nesma is presently working on a new collection, inspired by traditional objects still used by Egyptians in their daily life such as water jugs, bowls and platters.
Candles bring a sense of warmth and life to a room and when they are combined with wooden handicrafts, they create a natural and soothing atmosphere. They are beautifully elegant and, unlike a normal candle which soon burns away, a candle holder is something so classic it lasts for years and never has to be replaced. “All the client has to do is come back to us and refill the candle holder with wax!” says Nesma with a smile.