Winged Victory Candle — The Nike of Samothrace in Soy Wax

The Winged Victory candle is Votive's sculptural interpretation of one of the most arresting objects in Western art — the Nike of Samothrace, headless and armless, carved around 190 BCE and now presiding over the grand staircase of the Louvre. The candle captures what makes the original so powerful: the forward movement, the sense of something arriving. A figure defined by momentum, rendered in soy wax.

Why is the Winged Victory of Samothrace so famous?

The Nike of Samothrace — known in English as the Winged Victory — has been called one of the greatest surviving works of ancient sculpture. Dating to approximately 190 BCE, it depicts the Greek goddess Nike alighting on the prow of a warship, wings spread, drapery caught by the wind. What makes it remarkable is that it achieves this sense of movement in stone. The figure is headless and armless, yet it reads as entirely alive — a paradox that has captivated viewers since it was installed at the Louvre in 1884.

For artists, designers, and anyone drawn to classical form, the Winged Victory is a reference point for how sculpture can convey triumph, energy, and grace simultaneously. That quality is what makes it a natural subject for a sculptural candle.

The Votive Winged Victory Candle

Hand-poured from 100% natural soy wax at our Orlando, Florida studio, the Winged Victory candle is individually hand-finished and designed to stand as a display object before it is ever lit. The form captures the forward lean and wing spread of the original — scaled for a shelf, a desk, or a classical grouping alongside the Venus and Artemis candles.

• Height: 19 cm
• Wax: 100% natural soy wax
• Wick: Lead-free cotton wick
• Origin: Handmade in Orlando, FL
• Available scents: Peony Bouquet · Cherry Blossom · English Rose · Unscented

Ways to display the Winged Victory Candle

As a standalone sculpture: The figure is designed to be worthy of display before it is ever lit. Place it on a book stack, a marble tray, or a floating shelf where it can be seen from an angle — the sense of forward movement reads best when the viewer is slightly below eye level with the wings.

In a classical grouping: The Winged Victory pairs naturally with the Venus and Artemis candles for a Greek mythology collection. The three figures represent different qualities — beauty, the hunt, and victory — and they work together as a cohesive shelf arrangement.

As a gift for art and history lovers: Few objects are as recognisable and as genuinely beautiful. The candle is meaningful for anyone who has stood in front of the original in Paris, or who simply responds to classical form.

What is a victory candle?

In the sculptural sense, a victory candle is a candle shaped or inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace (Nike of Samothrace). Unlike ritual or intention candles sometimes sold under that name, a sculptural victory candle is a decorative object first — a soy wax form that interprets the famous marble statue. Votive's version is hand-finished rather than mass-produced, meaning each piece has slight variations in surface texture and finish that are part of its character.

Why soy wax?

Soy wax burns cleanly, without the petroleum byproducts associated with paraffin. It holds sculptural detail well and is renewable. All Votive candles use 100% natural, non-GMO soy wax with phthalate-free fragrance oils — the same standard whether the candle is a container jar or a sculptural figure.

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