Candlestick c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have a pair of ceramic candlesticks, dating back to the 19th century. Editor: Oh, they remind me of caramelized apples! That rich, glossy glaze. There’s a warm, homey feeling about them. They seem… substantial, somehow, not delicate at all. Curator: The "substantial" feel, I suspect, is deeply linked to the social and economic history of ceramics as a decorative and functional material in the 19th century home. Note the distinct sections formed, most likely on a lathe, suggesting a semi-industrialised manufacturing process intended for broad consumption. Editor: Interesting point. I was just imagining the flicker of candlelight on that surface, the shadows playing on the simple forms. Did their makers see themselves as artists, or just artisans fulfilling a need? Curator: That’s always the pertinent question, isn't it? Boundaries between ‘art’ and ‘craft’ were increasingly blurred by the 19th century. Certainly the use of slip-casting for mass production brought its own creative challenges and potential, affecting the skill sets required for production, and subsequently, how objects were valued. The speckled glaze seems intentionally applied to offer an illusion of uniqueness for each mass-produced object. Editor: It does! Makes them feel less mass-produced, even though they probably were. Like the touch of a real human. Though that effect could have been intentional; were there methods developed at this time to mimic or streamline more traditionally hand-done methods? Curator: Undoubtedly. We're seeing industrial ambition, which includes not only volume, but mimicry of organic design principles through machine and technological methods. Consider also the raw material extraction processes. Mining and its brutal effect on people's lives could have a direct impact on production capabilities. It's about expanding market share and creating new forms of desire through affordable production. Editor: So it all feeds in: mining, the artistry, marketing… Wow. I will think about that when I see the way light bounces off them now. Curator: Indeed. These simple forms hold much within them. Editor: I will take a closer look next time. Thank you.