Candlestick and Holder c. 1941

Franklyn Syres created this watercolour and graphite on paper depicting a "Candlestick and Holder." The candlestick and holder are rendered with a focus on meticulous detail. This image is part of a larger tradition of representing ordinary objects as a means of understanding American material culture and design. In the absence of the original object, the painting serves as a document that provides a visual record of the design. This was a time when mass production was increasing, with items such as candlesticks becoming less crafted and more manufactured. This project, completed under the Index of American Design, has a sense of nostalgia about pre-industrial methods and an awareness of the rapid changes in design. Historians consult sources like design catalogues, trade publications, and social histories to contextualize works like this. These resources help to shed light on how objects such as this candlestick reflected and influenced the social values of its time.