I don't have much of a conservation background, but I can offer my
    mother's solution to removing blobs of candle wax.  If it was on an
    object that was small enough (ie., candlesticks), she would pop them
    into the freezer for a few hours.  On larger items, she would hold an
    ice cube to the wax.  In both cases, the cold hardens the wax and
    makes it more brittle, making it easier to chip off.



    Tim McShane
    Parks Canada Curatorial Services
    Calgary, Alberta