Pair of candlesticks 1729 - 1730

These silver candlesticks, created by Jacques Besnier between 1729 and 1730, are now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York City. The pair exemplifies the French Rococo style, characterized by delicate ornamentation and flowing lines, evidenced in the intricate engravings adorning the octagonal bases and the slender, elegant form of the candlesticks. The engraved medallion at the center of each candlestick further adds to the opulent visual appeal. These candlesticks would have been a statement piece in any aristocratic French household of the time.