Candelabrum (one of a pair) 1735 - 1755

This striking porcelain candelabrum was made by Villeroy, sometime in the mid-18th century. During this period, European art was heavily influenced by an idealized image of the ‘Orient.’ These objects, often referred to as ‘chinoiserie,’ reflected Europe’s fascination with, and misunderstanding of, Asian cultures. This candelabrum presents a romanticized view of the East, filtered through a European lens. Note the figure at the center: an idealized, porcelain version of a Chinese child, surrounded by gilded foliage. The candelabrum is as much about European fantasies and power dynamics as it is about any genuine cultural exchange. It reflects the complex interplay between admiration, appropriation, and misrepresentation that characterized much of the West’s engagement with the East. As you stand here, consider the dual nature of this object: beautiful and skillfully crafted, yet also a product of cultural misunderstanding. It invites us to reflect on how we perceive and represent cultures different from our own, and the fine line between appreciation and appropriation.