If a person’s candlesticks are on the Shabbat table, and he needs the space for his meal on Shabbat morning, may he move them off the table, or are they considered Mukseh, even though the flames have already burned out?
The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 279:1) rules explicitly that the utensils which held burning candles when Shabbat began remain Mukseh for the entirety of Shabbat. Since a candlestick is considered Mukseh when the candles are lit, and it is thus considered Mukseh at the onset of Shabbat, when the candles are burning, it remains Mukseh throughout Shabbat.
However, later in that chapter (279:4), the Shulhan Aruch makes an important exception to this Halacha, based upon the ruling of the Ran (Rabbenu Nissim of Gerona, Spain, 14th century) in Masechet Shabbat. The Ran writes that one may stipulate before Shabbat that he wishes to use the utensils once the fire burns out, and such a stipulation is effective in rendering the candlesticks permissible once the fire has gone out. In fact, one may make a stipulation once each year that for every Shabbat throughout the coming year, he intends to make use of the candlesticks after the candles burn out. This annual stipulation suffices to allow one on every Shabbat to move and use the candlesticks after the flames have gone out.
There is, however, a significant restriction on this Halacha. Namely, it does not apply to silver candlesticks or other expensive candle holders. Expensive items have the Halachic status of "Mukseh Mahamat Hisaron Kis," and objects with this status may not be handled on Shabbat regardless of any stipulations that one makes. A stipulation is effective only for the Mukseh status that a candlestick obtains by virtue of the fact that it held a fire when Shabbat began. The status of "Mukseh Mahamat Hisaron Kis" cannot be avoided through a stipulation, and therefore expensive candlesticks may not be moved on Shabbat under any circumstances.
Summary: It is permissible to move candlesticks or candle holders on Shabbat after the fire has burned out if one had made a stipulation before Shabbat that he intends to move them after the flames have gone out. It suffices to make this stipulation once a year to cover all the Shabbatot during the year. However, silver candlesticks and other expensive candle holders may not be moved on Shabbat even if such a stipulation is made.
