Pair of candlesticks 1710 - 1711

These silver candlesticks were made by David Willaume I, a leading silversmith in London in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Willaume was one of many Huguenot artisans who fled religious persecution in France and brought their skills to England, influencing design and craftsmanship. These candlesticks reflect the formal elegance and restrained ornamentation favored by the upper classes. They tell us a lot about the rituals and social life of the wealthy, who would have used them to light their homes and display their refinement. The Huguenots were vital to the development of consumer culture. By examining the records of the Goldsmiths' Company, as well as wills, inventories, and trade directories, we can understand the important role of artisans like Willaume in shaping taste and material culture in England. Art objects such as these were not simply decorative, but also active participants in the social and economic life of the period.