Pair of candlesticks 1772 - 1782

These are a pair of Neoclassical silver candlesticks by John Winter and Co. In order to understand these candlesticks we must situate them within the social rituals of the time. Candlesticks such as these were critical to illuminating the social spaces of the upper classes, who were the primary consumers and arbiters of taste. Notice the symmetry of the design, the fluted columns, and the swag motifs – all visual cues that signified wealth and social standing. These design elements, borrowed from ancient Greece and Rome, were a way for the upper classes to align themselves with the perceived virtues and order of those societies. However, light and power went hand in hand during this era. The soft glow of candlelight, rendered with pieces like this, was not merely about aesthetics; it was also about creating atmospheres of exclusivity and privilege.