Galvanoplastische reproductie van een altaarkandelaar gedecoreerd met vruchten, bloemen en engelenkopjes 1881

This altar candlestick was reproduced by Elkington & Co., known for electroplating, capturing a design adorned with fruits, flowers, and cherubic heads. The symbols speak of divine blessings, the abundance of spiritual gifts, and the purity associated with heavenly beings. Notice how the cherubs are represented. These winged figures, common in Renaissance art, evoke the classical Cupid and earlier yet, the Eros of ancient Greece. Their presence signifies divine love. The fruits and flowers, symbols of fertility, also appear in pagan festivals of old. The candlestick as a whole evokes the sacred tree of life, a universal symbol that crosses cultures. Such symbols demonstrate the constant presence of mankind’s deepest fears and aspirations. They are constantly repeated and reinterpreted, and continue to resonate with us.