Ontwerp voor pendule en twee kandelabers c. 1825 - 1835

Adrien Louis Marie Cavelier created this design for a clock and two candelabras, rendered on paper with graphite and watercolor. The design suggests objects that would have been cast in bronze, chased, and gilded. The making of such luxury goods was a highly stratified process, involving designers like Cavelier, skilled modelers, founders, and finishers who would apply the delicate mercury gilding. The clock and candelabra design reflects a desire for a revival of classical forms, blending ornamentation with industrial means of production, so this aesthetic would speak of wealth and status. This division of labor was the engine of Parisian luxury production, enabling the creation of lavish objects. Considering the artistry and labor involved, designs like these challenge any strict separation between art and craft, highlighting the interconnectedness of design, production, and social status.