Kandelaar, opgebouwd uit ranken 1904

This silver candlestick, made by the Koninklijke Utrechtsche Fabriek van Zilverwerken van C.J. Begeer, has a really cool Art Nouveau vibe, all those tendril-like forms that seem to grow and unfurl. It's amazing how metal can be coaxed into these organic shapes. You can see the silversmith's touch in the subtle variations of the surface, reflecting light in a way that almost makes it seem alive. I'm drawn to the way the base curves upward, meeting the stem in a delicate dance. It’s as though the whole piece is reaching, striving towards the light it's meant to hold. The metal is so shiny. It's hard to know how they got it like that. It's such an exercise in craft. Looking at it, I'm reminded of Hector Guimard's metro entrances in Paris, those iconic, swirling ironworks that also capture the spirit of Art Nouveau. Both seem to celebrate the beauty and intricacy of the natural world, translating it into something new and otherworldly. It makes you think about how ideas evolve, how artists riff off each other across time and medium.