Candlestick 1785 - 1815

Editor: We're looking at a silver candlestick, crafted somewhere between 1785 and 1815 and attributed to Joan Bonnin. It’s currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s giving me a slightly melancholic air, probably due to the black and white photo, and the rather elaborate, delicate design seems almost too ornate for just holding a candle. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: Well, it sings to me of candlelight sonatas and hushed whispers in grand, darkened rooms. Doesn’t it almost feel like a frozen moment in a gothic novel? Think about what this represents; far more than utility, it embodies an aspiration to elegance and sophistication amidst the encroaching industrial age. Do you notice the small details, like the delicate filigree work, or the whimsical curl of the snuffer? These weren't just functional; they were meant to charm and delight. Editor: That's a lovely thought, a frozen gothic moment. It's true, the details are amazing. It does seem like everything, down to the snuffer hanging on its delicate chain, has a place and purpose beyond the practical. Curator: Precisely! I see Bonnin breathing life into an object that others would have simply produced. By adding his little artistic touches, we gain insight into his time. Editor: It really makes you wonder about the stories this candlestick could tell, doesn't it? I appreciate seeing it not just as a thing, but as a fragment of history and artistry. Curator: And that’s the enchantment of it all, isn't it? To glimpse worlds through objects.