Pair of candlesticks 1748 - 1749

These silver candlesticks were crafted by Alexis Loir the Third, sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Loir was part of a dynasty of goldsmiths in Paris during a time of great social inequality, where wealth and luxury items were concentrated among the aristocracy. These candlesticks, with their elaborate ornamentation, reflect the opulence of the period. Yet, they also embody a certain tension: while they provided light, an essential service, their value and artistry also signaled a vast economic disparity. Crafted from precious materials, the candlesticks illuminate the lives and spaces of the privileged, but they cast a shadow on the lives of those who could not afford even basic necessities. Consider the emotional impact these objects might have had—desire, envy, or perhaps even a flicker of hope for upward mobility in a rigid social structure. The candlesticks serve as a poignant reminder of the complex interplay between beauty, utility, and social stratification.