Pair of candlesticks 1730 - 1731

Editor: This is a pair of silver candlesticks made by Antoine Plot between 1730 and 1731. They feel very formal and imposing. What can you tell me about their significance? Curator: Well, beyond their obvious function, we have to consider these candlesticks within their historical moment. Who had access to silver like this in the 18th century, and what did it signify? Baroque objects like these often represented status and power during an era defined by courtly culture and entrenched social hierarchies. Can you see any echoes of this in their design? Editor: I guess so. They’re quite ornate and meticulously crafted. I suppose the ridged design of the base suggests a deliberate ornamentation of something simple. So, were they displayed, and what statement were they making to guests? Curator: Exactly! Silverware proclaimed wealth, refined taste, and adherence to social norms, signaling a host's place within the societal hierarchy. Think about the labor involved and the social structure needed to maintain such a lavish lifestyle. Does viewing them as tools of the patriarchy, supporting unequal hierarchies of gender and wealth, alter how you perceive them? Editor: Definitely. It makes me think about the social cost of such luxury. I see the skill and artistry, but it’s now tainted by that history. Curator: Precisely. And remember that objects like these can serve as valuable prompts for crucial conversations about class, labor, and representation within art history and in society today. Editor: I never thought candlesticks could be so charged! Curator: Isn't it fascinating? Art and design can be such potent reflections – and even tools – of social and political power.