Candle and Rush Light Holder c. 1936

Jack Staloff created this "Candle and Rush Light Holder" with graphite on paper. Focusing on the image, the holder is made of iron, the traditional material for these lighting devices. The processes that involve the forging and manipulation of iron are important in understanding the social significance of this humble household object. The candle and rush light holder reflects the ingenuity of design in everyday life, to provide efficient lighting to poorer households. The shape is economical. An elegant tripod base rises to a stem holding a candle cup and a clamp for a rush light. Each element shaped to hold and maximize the faint illumination that would have been cast. Looking at the work, the artist's hand reminds us that craft and functionality coexist with the realm of fine art, where Staloff invites us to reconsider the value and beauty found in these ordinary objects.