Apply black paint to the entire candlestick, working the brush into the turned recesses so no wood shows. Two coats give full coverage; let the first dry for at least one hour before applying the second. The surface should be completely, evenly black with no streaks or missed areas before you move to the next step.

Once fully dry (allow two hours after the final coat), wrap a small piece of 220-grit sandpaper around your finger and sand lightly across the raised ridges of the turning. The sanding should reveal small patches of bare wood at the highest points. Work slowly: you can always sand more, but you cannot unsand. Stop when the piece looks gently worn rather than stripped.

Fit the taper candles and check they stand straight. If the candle hole is too wide, a small piece of florist tape wrapped around the base of the candle will grip the wood and hold it upright.