Candelabra with Three Candles 1800 - 1900

This is a pen and ink drawing of a Candelabra with Three Candles, made by an anonymous artist. Given the Neoclassical style, this design likely emerged during a period when European society, particularly its elite, was fascinated by ancient Greek and Roman culture. The candelabra's design suggests more than utility; it speaks to aspirations of grandeur and displays of wealth. The three female figures could be the Three Graces or the goddess Hecate, an ancient Greek goddess often associated with crossroads, magic, and knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants. Their representation hints at how the cultural understanding of femininity and mythology intertwines with the everyday objects of the time. Even in its sketched form, the candelabra evokes a sense of ritual. As we consider it now, we might reflect on how the simple act of lighting a candle can transform a space and imbue it with warmth, memory, or even a sense of the divine.