America (one of a pair) 1740 - 1760

This is a porcelain and bronze candelabra, titled "America," created by the Meissen Manufactory. It is a decorative piece, but it speaks volumes about the European perception of the Americas. The figure is adorned with stereotypical attributes: a feathered headdress, a profusion of flowers, and an alligator. These elements, while intended to represent the exoticism of the Americas, are rife with colonial assumptions and misrepresentations. The artist likely never set foot on American soil, relying instead on secondhand accounts and biased imagery to inform their work. The figure’s presentation is highly gendered, yet ambiguous. The figure, while appearing womanly, is likely intended to be male, but the artist has adorned them with softer, more traditionally feminine features. This ambiguity highlights the complexities of cultural exchange and the power dynamics inherent in representation. It’s a testament to how the colonizers envisioned and wanted to depict the colonized world. This candelabra offers a glimpse into the mindset of 18th-century Europe and its relationship with the "New World," revealing the fantasies, projections, and power imbalances that shaped the colonial project.