Q: I inherited several items from my mother and came across this. I have asked several people, but nobody knows what it is. Can you help, please?

A: What you have is a combination candlesnuffer and wick trimmer. When candles were the only source of light in the home, wicks had to be trimmed to keep the candle burning steadily and to prevent it from smoking. Trimming the wick isn't necessary today because most candles have braided wicks that curl back into the flame as they burn. However, some people still say that trimming the wick to one-quarter inch makes the candle burn more cleanly. The snuffer is used to snuff out the flame. Today most people just blow out a candle. Value of your brass candlesnuffer and wick trimmer is about $30.