Pair of candlesticks 1716 - 1717

Here we have a pair of silver candlesticks by Joseph Bird, crafted sometime between 1635 and 1735. The gleaming surface and elegant form speak to the rituals of light and domestic life in a bygone era. In a time of immense social change and exploration, silver objects like these were not just functional; they were potent symbols of wealth and status. Who owned them, how they were displayed, and who they illuminated at the table all spoke volumes about power dynamics. The candlesticks reflect the gendered spaces of the home, where women often presided, and where social performances of class and taste took place. Consider, too, the labor and resources required to produce such objects. They remind us of the colonial networks through which silver was extracted and the skilled artisans, like Joseph Bird, who transformed raw materials into objects of beauty. As we gaze at these candlesticks, we are invited to reflect on the complex interplay between light, power, and the silent stories objects can tell.