Kandelaar met masker 1772 - 1779

Jean Pelletier created this design for a "Kandelaar met masker" or two-branch candelabra sometime around 1736, rendered in delicate lines on paper. Pelletier’s sophisticated design suggests it was intended for casting in precious metal. Notice the fluting on the central support, the delicate festoons suspended below the mask, and the scrolling acanthus leaves that ornament the arms. These would have required skilled chasing by a silversmith to bring to life. The question is: where would this artisan have learned to work at this level of refinement? Most likely, a well-established workshop, where the division of labor would be carefully managed. Certain workers would specialize in casting, others in chasing, others in gilding, and so on. Seen in this light, Pelletier’s drawing is not just an aesthetic exercise, but a point of intersection between design, labor, and aspiration. It reminds us that even the most beautiful objects are always touched by the social realities of their making.