Candlestick (one of a set of eight) 1774 - 1775

Curator: Oh, hello. Take a peek at this 1774-1775 silver candlestick. Apparently, it is one of a set of eight. Editor: Hmm, it gives off a certain... Downton Abbey vibe. Very formal, very shiny. I bet the reflection of candlelight dancing on its surface would have been rather dazzling. Curator: Absolutely. It's such a stark demonstration of Baroque opulence in decorative art. All those little details catching the light... one can almost feel the cool weight of the silver. It seems quite involved in the execution. Editor: Indeed. Think about the labour involved here: mining the ore, smelting, refining the silver, then shaping and decorating it. And then to have seven more of these... that is no small task. Were they crafted in London? Were they destined for a sprawling estate somewhere? Who was doing the hammering and polishing? I would wonder. Curator: London, yes. The symmetry, the way the forms swell and taper... I think it aims for perfect balance and evokes a feeling of serenity for the viewer. Imagine the flicker of candlelight transforming it into something alive, wouldn’t you say? A beacon in a dark room. Editor: A beacon forged through industry, supported by labour. We're looking at the product, but let's acknowledge all the hands involved, shaping not just the silver, but the society of the time, the consumer practices, and so on. Curator: Fair enough. The history embedded in an object, always. Despite the intense process involved, one must notice that it’s quite visually still… grounded, stoic, almost? Editor: Indeed, objects of high class always rely on objects produced and consumed in high amounts. The value is almost entirely artificial but backed up through labor. Still very interesting though. Curator: Definitely makes one think beyond the mere gleam. Editor: Every shine holds a story, a question of labor, process, value, and of those in high status at the time. Thanks!